Published: 20:23, September 9, 2024
Jockey Club launches PBC Forum 2024, ushering in HK Philanthropy Week
By Wang Zhan
HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivers a video address at the opening ceremony of the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum 2024 on Sept 9, 2024. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust convened its fourth Philanthropy for Better Cities (PBC) Forum 2024 at West Kowloon Cultural District today. It ushered in Hong Kong Philanthropy Week, in keeping with the HKSAR Government’s mission to promote the city as an international philanthropy hub.

The two-day PBC Forum provides a platform for foundations, thought-leaders, policymakers, non-governmental organizations and experts from around the world to convene, engage in dialogue and share transformative ideas on translating philanthropic action into tangible, sustainable impact. Under an overarching theme of “Delivering Impactful Philanthropy in the Real World”, the forum features keynote speeches and panel discussions. It brings together nearly 100 eminent speakers and more than 2,000 delegates from 40 countries and regions including representatives of over 200 local, regional and global foundations.

The Club’s Charities Trust convened the forum in association with the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), a charitable organization launched by the Club and its Trust at the opening of the third PBC Forum in September 2023.

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Jockey Club Chairman Michael Lee delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum 2024 on Sept 9, 2024. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Through a video address at the forum, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said, “This forum is testament to Hong Kong’s commitment to philanthropy. It is proudly presented by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust, a long-standing leader in championing our philanthropic endeavors.” He added, “The HKSAR Government is committed to Hong Kong’s rise as a global center for philanthropy. That goal was formalized in our Policy Statement on Developing Family Office Businesses in Hong Kong. Our vision is to provide philanthropists with the tools they need to manage their wealth, while channeling their resources into social initiatives that create tangible impact. We are determined to realize Hong Kong as a go-to destination for global family offices passionate about making a difference.”

Officiating at the opening ceremony of this year’s forum was HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki, the Club’s Chairman Michael Lee and Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

In his welcome speech at the opening ceremony, the Club’s Chairman said, “In Asia – home to the most populous nations and fastest-developing economies – we are experiencing rapid growth in philanthropic giving commensurate with the region’s rising prosperity through development. However, Asian philanthropy requires properly contextualized models and solutions to account for varied political, economic and cultural contexts that are different from established, largely Western models. Unlocking its full potential will be crucial in addressing shared social and environmental challenges most effectively.”

HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki (front row, center), Club Chairman Michael Lee (front row, 6th left), Club Deputy Chairman Martin Liao (front row, 5th left), Club Stewards, Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (front row, 6th right) and Club management pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony of the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum 2024 on Sept 9, 2024. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Leading foundations participating in this year’s PBC Forum include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Nippon Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Tanoto Foundation, Temasek Foundation, Tencent Charity Foundation and the Wellcome Trust.

Julia Gillard – Chair of the Wellcome Trust, Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership and former Prime Minister of Australia – delivered today’s opening keynote entitled: “East is East and West is West: how does philanthropy differ and how can we best work together?”

Professor Michael Spence – 2001 Nobel Laureate in Economics, Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean Emeritus of the Stanford Business School and Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution of Stanford University – delivered the second keynote entitled: “The economics of giving: what makes us give? What stops us from giving more?”

The Memorandum of Collaboration is signed by Li Qun, Deputy Director General, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (front row, 2nd right); Chak-sing Lau, Dean of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (front row, 2nd left); Philip Chiu Wai-yan, Dean of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (front row, 1st right); Prof Vanessa Barrs, Dean, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong (front row, 1st left). The signing ceremony was witnessed by Michael Lee, Chairman of Hong Kong Jockey Club (back row, 2nd right); Lester Huang, Chairman of IoP and Steward of Hong Kong Jockey Club (back row, 1st left); Winfried Engelbrecht Bresges, CEO of Hong Kong Jockey Club and Director of IoP (back row, 1st right); and Ronald Lam, Director of Health, HKSAR Government (back row, 2nd left). (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Additionally at the forum, representatives from the Department of Health of the HKSAR Government, the Club and IoP witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Collaboration between the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and three local universities to strengthen capacity for monitoring and responding to epidemics in the Greater Bay Area. The local institutes are the Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute at the University of Hong Kong, the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Science at the City University of Hong Kong. The memorandum follows the “One Health” approach which the Club has long supported including through the establishment of these university institutes.

This year the forum program spans five days. It began with a welcome luncheon at the opening of Hong Kong’s 2024/25 horseracing season on 8 September, followed by the two day forum. The Foundations Circle and additional side-events will be convened by IoP on 11 and 12 September. In addition, the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy will also host a three-day summit from 12-14 September, rounding out Hong Kong Philanthropy Week.

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Moderated by Laura M. Cha, Trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation, Former Chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (left), Julia Gillard, Chair of the Wellcome Trust, Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership and former Prime Minister of Australia (right) delivers the opening keynote: “East is East and West is West: how does philanthropy differ and how can we best work together?”  (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
In the first plenary session entitled “What is Impact? Launching a new, systematic assessment of Asian giving”, Ichiro Kabasawa, Executive Director of Nippon Foundation (1st left), Benny Lee, CEO of Tanoto Foundation (2nd left), and Jennifer Stout, Deputy Director of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (2nd right), explore the potential of new assessment tools to define and ensure philanthropic impact. The session is moderated by William Foster, Managing Partner of Bridgespan Group (1st right). Jagannatha Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Foundation, and Mattie Bekink, China Regional Director of Ford Foundation, also participate in the discussion via video conferencing. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Delivering the second keynote entitled “The Economics of Giving: What makes us give? What stops us from giving more?” is Professor Michael Spence, 2001 Nobel Laureate in Economics, Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean Emeritus of the Stanford Business School and Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution of Stanford University (left). The moderator is Professor Stephen Cheung, Voting Member of Hong Kong Jockey Club, Vice-Chairman of CMB Wing Lung Bank and Former President of the Education University of Hong Kong (right). (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The Club’s support for the PBC Forum, like all of its charity and community initiatives, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and wagering generate tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for the community.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club 

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the HKSAR Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2023/24, the Club returned a total of HK$40.1 billion to the community. This included HK$29.9 billion to the HKSAR Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions 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.

Institute of Philanthropy

The Institute of Philanthropy was established in September 2023 through a strategic seed grant of HK$6.8 billion ($870 million) from The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust. Established as an independent “think-fund-do” tank for China and Asia, IoP is dedicated to promoting philanthropic thought leadership and enhancing sector capabilities at local, regional and global levels in collaboration with fellow funders. It seeks to provide an Asia-based platform bringing global stakeholders together to promote the betterment of societies everywhere.