The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the “Club”) celebrated Hong Kong’s next generation of leaders and innovators at its Scholarships and Fellowships Award Presentation Ceremony and High Table Dinner on 28 April.  In total 110 scholarships and 10 STEM fellowships were presented and 45 graduating JC Scholars recognised.  The annual event, which also saw the induction of five Endowed Professorships, underlined the Club’s long-standing commitment to education and talent development.

The ceremony was hosted by Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao, who was joined by keynote speaker Professor Anita Elberse, Lincoln Filene Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School.  Witnessing the occasion were Club Stewards, the Club’s CEO and members of the Club’s management team, together with representatives of participating tertiary institutions.  Also sharing the joy were family members and friends of award recipients.

Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao

Speaking at the ceremony, Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao said that the Club well understands that people are Hong Kong’s most precious resource.  That is why the Club has long invested in human capital and education, to propel the city’s economic development and sustain the prosperity of our nation.

Keynote speaker Professor Anita Elberse, Lincoln Filene Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School

Professor Anita Elberse, in her keynote speech, reflected on her research into the world’s most accomplished sports and entertainment organisations and emphasised that success is not left to chance, but built on placing people at the centre, setting the highest standards and learning continuously – even in times of success.  She encouraged scholars, fellows and endowed professors to pursue excellence with discipline, trust those they work with, and lead in ways that uplift others when it matters most.

Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao (front row, centre) with recipients of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Chairman’s Scholarship

Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao (front row, centre) with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Striding On Scholarship awardees

Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (front row, centre) celebrates with graduating JC Scholars

Launched in 1998, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships were established to nurture compassionate, socially minded leaders for the betterment of society.  Over the years, the programme has expanded to encompass vocational education, undergraduates from the Chinese Mainland and overseas studying in Hong Kong, and students who have overcome significant adversity.  A new music and dance scholarship has also been introduced for young talent pursuing professional studies in music and dance at leading institutions outside Hong Kong.  To date, over HK$1.25 billion^Note has been approved, benefiting more than 1,200 outstanding young people.

Deputy Chairman Lester Huang (front row, centre) pictured with recipients of the JC STEM Early Career Research Fellowship for Translation and Application and representatives of the Fellowship’s international expert review panel

To cultivate a strong pipeline of innovation and technology talent, the Club established the JC STEM Early Career Research Fellowship for Translation and Application in 2024.  The Fellowship provides comprehensive support and unique opportunities for early‑career researchers to advance research translation, expand professional networks and create social impact.  Further details can be found on the JC STEM Fellowship website: https://www.jcstem.hk/en.

Deputy Chairman Lester Huang (centre) with recipients of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Endowed Professorships

The ceremony also marked the first induction of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Endowed Professorships, reflecting the Club’s holistic investment in higher education.  The Endowed Professorships aim to advance research in areas of global health and sustainability, benefitting communities in Hong Kong and beyond.

The Club’s support for The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships, Fellowships and Endowed Professorships, like all its charity and community donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and responsible sports wagering generate substantial tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong Kong.

Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao (centre) with JC Scholars Wong Wang Chi Sunny (second right), Pang Wing Ka Winnie (first left), Yeung Pui Pui Samantha (first right) and JC STEM Early Career Research Fellow Dr Lam Yui Long Jeff (second left)

Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (centre) with JC Scholars Wong Wang Chi Sunny (third right), Pang Wing Ka Winnie (first right), and Yeung Pui Pui Samantha (second right); JC STEM Early Career Research Fellow Dr Lam Yui Long Jeff (first left); and graduating JC Scholars Cheuk Ka Ho Rex (third left) and Mak Kwan Nok Natalie (second left)

Note: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has approved over HK$1.21 billion and the Institute of Philanthropy has approved HK$36 million.