Horse racing has been a feature of Hong Kong life for more than 170 years. Today, it is Hong Kong’s most popular spectator sport, attracting a total attendance of 2.07 million in 2014-15, including many tourists. It is also widely recognized for the world-class quality of its horses and racing events. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is one of the world’s largest racing organizations and football betting operators. It is Hong Kong’s only authorized operator of horse racing and regulated football betting, and also operates the Mark Six lottery. It works closely with the government to meet public demand for gambling and combat illegal betting, and plays a leading role in promoting responsible gambling. In 2011, and again in 2015, the club was awarded the highest Level 4 accreditation under the Responsible Gambling Framework of the World Lottery Organization, becoming the first organization in Asia to be so recognized.

The club’s contributions to Hong Kong extend far beyond sporting entertainment. It is the territory’s largest single taxpayer, contributing HK$20.05 billion (US$2.57 billion) to the public purse in 2014-15, or 6.6 percent of all taxes collected by the Inland Revenue Department during the year. It is also one of the city’s largest employers, with more than 24,000 full- and part-time staff.

The club is Hong Kong’s largest non-government philanthropist, donating its surpluses via the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to charitable and community projects across Hong Kong. In 2014-15, it donated a record $3.87 billion to 189 projects, touching the lives of some 75 percent of the population.

Indeed, the trust ranked sixth in the world and number one in Asia in terms of charitable donations in 2015. The trust operates in various ways, funding and enabling the work of charitable and community agencies, and initiating its own projects in collaboration with government and community partners.

(This section is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return and the 20th anniversary of Shenzhen Daily, which will fall on the same day — July 1.)