Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships and Fellowships empowering future leaders for city

How can we nurture talent for the next generation to contribute meaningfully to Hong Kong’s future? For over two-and-a-half decades, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships have been answering this question by providing opportunities for young people to pursue their academic and professional aspirations.

To date, over 1,100 scholars have benefited from this initiative, which has evolved to reflect the changing needs of society. Club Chairman Michael Lee said at a presentation ceremony last week for The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships that they have grown in scope and scale. Today, the scholarships support outstanding students, including those who have overcome challenges; postgraduates studying for master’s or doctoral degrees at the world’s leading universities; and students in vocational education.

The Club has long been committed to supporting education and talent development in Hong Kong. Established in 1998, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships are dedicated to nurturing caring leaders for a better society. Total donations approved over the years amount to HK$891 million. Of this, HK$855 million has come from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, while HK$36 million has been donated by the Institute of Philanthropy.

At the ceremony, in addition to awarding scholarships to 116 students in recognition of their outstanding academic performance and commitment to serving the community, the JC STEM Early Career Research Fellowship for Translation and Application was awarded for the first time to 10 outstanding STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) researchers. The Club also congratulated 40 graduated JC Scholars as they embarked on a new chapter in their lives.

To address the needs of the 21st century, the Club established the JC STEM Early Career Research Fellowship for Translation and Application in 2024, aiming to nurture young STEM researchers by providing them with a unique opportunity to pursue innovation, expand their professional networks and create social impact.

As a not-for-profit sports and charity organisation rooted in Hong Kong for 140 years, the Club’s partnership with the community has thrived thanks to a unique integrated business model through which racing and wagering generate tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong Kong.