Arts, Culture and Heritage All Categories Arts, Culture and Heritage Education and Training Elderly Services Emergency and Poverty Relief Environmental Protection Family Services Medical and Health Rehabilitation Services Sports and Recreation Youth Development

The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) is a gift from the Central Government. First announced to mark the 20th anniversary of the HKSAR, its construction was funded by a HK$3.5 billion donation from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust – the Club’s largest single charity donation to date. The museum will open to the public on 2 July as a highlight of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Co-organised by the Government of the HKSAR and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, the opening ceremony of the HKPM was held today (22 June). It was officiated by Chief Executive of the HKSAR Carrie Lam, Vice-Minister of Culture and Tourism and Administrator of the National Cultural Heritage Administration Li Qun, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in HKSAR Lu Xin-ning, Deputy Commissioner, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR Yang Yi-rui, Director of the Palace Museum Dr Wang Xu-dong, Acting Secretary for Home Affairs Jack Chan, Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) Henry Tang, Club Chairman Philip Chen, Chairman of the Board of the HKPM Bernard Charnwut Chan, Chief Executive Officer of the WKCDA Betty Fung and Museum Director of HKPM Dr Louis Ng. Also in attendance were former Club Chairmen, Dr Simon Ip and Dr Anthony Chow, Club Stewards, and Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

Club Chairman Philip Chen expressed his sincere thanks to the Central Government, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government and the HKSAR Government for their support for the project. He said the HKPM has a profound significance for Hong Kong and also for the Club. “First, this is the Club’s largest single donation to date. Second, this is one of the largest loans of exhibits by the Palace Museum to a cultural institution outside the Mainland, all of which is testament to the Central Government’s support for our city. Thanks to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, visitors can understand and appreciate a great deal more about Chinese art and history.”

The Club is supporting young people and the underprivileged to visit the HKPM as part of the HKSAR’s “Celebrations for All” campaign. This is one of several initiatives supported by the Club’s approved donation of HK$630 million to the HKSAR Government to mark the 25th anniversary.

The HKPM is not only an opportunity to appreciate national treasures first-hand but to support the Central Government’s vision of developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange, as outlined in the National 14th Five-Year Plan.

The Club has itself supported several major HKSAR Government cultural and conservation projects over the past 25 years. In addition to the HKPM, these include Tai Kwun – Centre for Heritage and Arts, whose conservation and revitalisation was announced to mark the 10th anniversary of the HKSAR, and the HKPM project to mark the 20th anniversary.

Over the past 25 years, thanks to the success of its world-class racing, the Club has been able to increase its contribution to the community via its integrated business model. Being a world-leader in the sport of horse racing and also one of the ten largest charitable donors in the world, the Club is resolute in pursuing its purpose of acting continuously for the betterment of our society, all in support of creating stronger communities together.