New facilities unveiled at Jockey Club-supported disaster prevention and emergency management institute in Sichuan

The Sichuan University – Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction (“IDMR”), built with a RMB 200 million donation from The Hong Kong Jockey Club (“the Club”) as one of Sichuan’s reconstruction projects following the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, held a plaque unveiling ceremony today (8 November) for a new building, Block B.

Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (2nd right) and Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, Raymond Tam (1st right) officiate at the plaque unveiling ceremony for Block B of the Sichuan University – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction (“IDMR”) together with Secretary of the Party Committee of Sichuan University Gan Lin (2nd left) and Vice President of Sichuan University Zhao Changsheng (1st left).

The first of its kind in the country, the IDMR integrates scientific research, talent development and social services in the fields of disaster prevention and reduction, and post-disaster reconstruction. The new building provides a more spacious environment for teaching and scientific research. It is another stage in the partnership between Sichuan and Hong Kong in support of disaster prevention and post-disaster reconstruction in China.

The plaque unveiling ceremony was attended by Secretary of the Party Committee of Sichuan University Gan Lin; Vice President of Sichuan University Zhao Changsheng; Deputy Director of the Council of Sichuan University Yan Shijing; Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; Club Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, Raymond Tam; Club Head of Mainland Affairs Ronald Chan;  Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Sichuan Province (“SCHKMAO”) Li Hui; Deputy Director of Sichuan Provincial Commission of Development and Reform Huang Yong; Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu Enoch Yuen; Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement) of Hong Kong Polytechnic University Laura Lo, as well as other guests.

The plaque unveiling ceremony was attended by Secretary of the Party Committee of Sichuan University Gan Lin (5th left); Vice President of Sichuan University Zhao Changsheng (4th left); Deputy Director of the Council of Sichuan University Yan Shijing (1st left); Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (5th right); Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, Raymond Tam (4th right); Hong Kong Jockey Club Head of Mainland Affairs Ronald Chan (1st right); Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Sichuan Province Li Hui (3rd left); Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Commission of Development and Reform Huang Yong (2nd left); Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu Enoch Yuen (3rd right); Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Laura Lo (2nd right).

Secretary of the Sichuan University Party Committee Gan Lin welcomed Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and Club representatives. Both parties had a meeting prior to the unveiling ceremony.

Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (left) meets with Secretary of the Sichuan University Party Committee Gan Lin (right).

SCHKMAO Deputy Director Li Hui welcomed the opening of the new building, noting that following the devastating Wenchuan earthquake of 2008, Hong Kong had generously donated HK$10 billion to support post-disaster reconstruction and relief in Sichuan. These efforts have contributed to the high-quality development of Sichuan, benefiting such areas as education, public health and talent development. In recent years, the IDMR has developed capabilities across the country and in Sichuan. The new building will help Sichuan University develop its disaster prevention and emergency management and enhance Sichuan-Hong Kong co-operation.

Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said the IDMR is an outstanding example of “One Country, Two Systems” in action, bringing together Sichuan University and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, with strong support from the Central Government, the Sichuan Provincial Government and the HKSAR Government. The Club is committed to building a better society for all and has supported several post-disaster projects in Sichuan including the IDMR. He looked forward to many more students applying their skills to the front lines of disaster prevention and relief, to the further development of the IDMR, and to continuing strong ties between Sichuan and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said the Club is looking forward to the further development of the IDMR, as well as to more exchange and co-operation between Sichuan and Hong Kong.

With a total area of 8,400 square meters, the IDMR’s new Block B has 16 laboratories providing facilities for the study of geological disasters, flood disasters, post-disaster environmental management, urban disasters and resilience, disaster information and emergency command and control. 

Guests visit the newly-built Block B at the IDMR.

Since its establishment in 2013, around 645 master’s and doctoral students have enrolled at the IDMR, with emergency management professionals being trained for Sichuan and the country. It also provides education and skills training in the community to enhance public awareness of disaster prevention and risk reduction.

Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (2nd right) and other Club representatives listen to master's and doctoral students in disaster nursing share their research results at a seminar at the IDMR.

Hong Kong racing has long been a landmark of the successful implementation of “One Country, Two Systems” in Hong Kong, making important contributions to the economy and livelihood of the city. In 2023/24, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (“the Club”) returned a total of HK$40.1 billion to the community, including HK$29.9 billion to the HKSAR Government in betting duties, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions. Excluding the Lotteries Fund contributions, the Club contributed to a significant 8.3% of the total taxes collected by the Inland Revenue Department in the 2023/24 year of assessment, and HK$10.2 billion in approved charity donations. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is one of the world’s leading charity donors.

Photo source：The Hong Kong Jockey Club

The horse racing sport in Hong Kong has enjoyed increasing popularity among tourists, many of who love the Happy Wednesday at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesdays as well as the race meetings in Sha Tin on Sundays/Saturdays. In Season 2023/24, we have received a total of 93,000 tourist arrivals. In the first two months of this racing season, there have been more than 27,000 visitor arrivals to our racecourses. Apart from exciting races, the two racecourses also have a variety of catering offers and engaging on-course entertainment activities to provide an enriched experience that fuses racing and entertainment for the racegoers.

Photo source：The Hong Kong Jockey Club

In Season 2024/25, the Club will be hosting 88 local racedays, including 12 Group 1 races.

The Club maintains on-going communication with the HKSAR Government in actively promoting horse racing tourism. With the aim of providing convenience to families and tourists to experience the horse racing sport and on-course entertainment facilities in an orderly manner, the Club is in discussion with relevant authorities to explore ways to expand the current arrangements to allow Owners and Member guests to bring their family members under the age of 18 to the racecourses on a limited basis.

Photo source：The Hong Kong Jockey Club

The Club has been in strict adherence to the Responsible Gambling Policy, and has stringent underage access controls across all betting channels. The real threat to Hong Kong comes from illegal bookmakers. They do not impose any age restrictions to gamblers, posing serious threat to responsible gambling.

The Club also notes that many racecourses overseas, such as Japan and Australia, allow underage admission. Tokyo Racecourse even blended in horse-related education element. We will fully support and commence discussions with the relevant government departments including Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, Tourism Commission, and Hong Kong Tourism Board as well as other industry stakeholders to take horse racing tourism forward.