Following the Annual General Meeting of The Hong Kong Jockey Club today (11 September), the new Board of Stewards elected Dr Simon S O Ip, CBE, JP as Chairman of the Club for 2014/15 and Mr Anthony W K Chow, SBS, JP as Deputy Chairman.  Dr Simon Ip (please see biography attached) succeeds Mr T Brian Stevenson, SBS, JP, who has retired from the Board after 15 years as a Club Steward, the past four years as Chairman.

Earlier, Voting Members at the Club's 2014 AGM elected Mrs Margaret Leung Ko May Yee, SBS, JP to the Board of Stewards to fill the vacancy created by Mr Stevenson's retirement.  They also re-elected three Stewards who retired by rotation, namely Dr Simon Ip, Mr Lester C H Kwok, JP, and Dr Eric Li Ka Cheung, GBS, OBE, JP.  All four Stewards will serve three-year terms until the 2017 AGM.

Mrs Margaret Leung (detailed biography attached) brings to the Board of Stewards extensive experience in the banking industry as well as an outstanding record of public service.  She is currently Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Chong Hing Bank.  Mrs Leung is also a keen horse racing enthusiast, having been a co-owner of some 10 horses in the past 15 years in her own right or as a member of the Waylee Syndicate, which she currently manages.  Two of these horses – Sunshine Kid and Winning Mascot – are still currently racing.

Speaking after the initial Board meeting, new Chairman Simon Ip paid warm tribute to his predecessor.  "Brian Stevenson has overseen a period of tremendous growth and development for the Jockey Club on both the sporting and charitable fronts," he commented.  "Our returns to the public purse through duties and tax have increased by more than 43% since 2010 and our charitable donations by a remarkable 137%.  Brian has also led important long-term developments for the Club like the revitalisation of racing, the Racecourse Master Plan and the launch of commingling, all of which have now come to fruition.” 

"Most recently, he has championed our HK$1.3 billion support for the new teaching hospital at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, which will greatly benefit the city's sandwich-class and elderly residents.  Moreover, our Sichuan reconstruction projects which Brian has overseen, involving the Club's largest-ever single donation of HK$1 billion in Mainland China, have brought great value to the lives of those affected.  Brian has worked tirelessly for the Club and the wider community and we owe him a great deal."

Dr Simon Ip said he looked forward to continuing this good work in the year ahead.  "It is going to be a very exciting year for the Club as we celebrate our 130th Anniversary of serving the Hong Kong community.” 

"We shall continue to achieve excellence in our operations and to elevate still further Hong Kong's high standing in world racing.  We shall also seek further ways of enhancing Hong Kong people's quality of life through our Charities Trust donations, by proactively looking for projects of impact that can contribute to the community's long-term sustainability, especially in areas of concern like the ageing population trend, youth development and societal integration.  We want the Club to continue making a positive contribution to Hong Kong society, just as it has done these past 130 years.”

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus for charitable and community projects. In 2013/14, its donations reached a record $3.6 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,275 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$19.58 billion in 2013/14. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,800 full-time and part-time staff. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong. 

Attachments
1) Biography of Dr Simon S O Ip
2) Biography of Mrs Margaret Leung Ko May Yee