The possibility of another major crisis is ever-present. Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Hong Kong must reinforce its infrastructure for emergency preparedness, prevention, resilience and relief.
Prevent and relief
Hong Kong has a sophisticated emergency preparedness and response system, with a host of public and private actors playing crucial roles in bringing emergency relief when crises hit. But even well-developed contingency plans may come under challenge in times of crisis, when unpredictable events threaten to undermine a city’s capacity to respond. That would inevitably put vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens at risk.
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the urgent need for Hong Kong to establish a more robust, inclusive and responsive emergency infrastructure.
The three-year pandemic took the lives of over 14,000 people in Hong Kong, and about one-third of the total population had been infected with the coronavirus. Within one week during the fifth wave, half of all public hospital beds were set aside for COVID-19 patients.
An epidemic outbreak on the scale of the coronavirus pandemic may not be a one-off. According to scientists , the chance of another public health crisis in the next few decades is ever-present. In fact, the risk is probably increasing due to trends such as climate change, environmental degradation and frequent interactions between humans and disease-harbouring animals.
Throughout the unprecedented pandemic, The Hong Kong Jockey Club was more proactive than ever in deploying resources to help the community. We quickly set up an emergency fund, offering fast-track grants to NGO partners. The subsidies enabled the NGOs to support the vulnerable through everything from medication home delivery to outpatient services. Over one million citizens have benefited - and will continue to benefit - from some 240 projects.
Apart from healthcare support, we launched numerous other initiatives targeting different groups of citizens to navigate the prolonged impact of the pandemic. They include a facilities enhancement scheme to strengthen care homes’ pandemic preparedness, a talent development programme for first-time job seekers, and a food assistance programme supporting people facing financial hardship.
In order to quickly respond to individuals urgently in need, we established an emergency relief fund which plays an important role in providing timely assistance to victims of natural disasters, accidents and epidemics in Hong Kong. In addition, we provide solid backing to the government’s efforts to strengthen epidemic preparedness and foster cooperation in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) for joint disease prevention and control.
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the urgent need for Hong Kong to establish a more robust, inclusive and responsive emergency infrastructure.
The three-year pandemic took the lives of over 14,000 people in Hong Kong, and about one-third of the total population had been infected with the coronavirus. Within one week during the fifth wave, half of all public hospital beds were set aside for COVID-19 patients.
An epidemic outbreak on the scale of the coronavirus pandemic may not be a one-off. According to scientists , the chance of another public health crisis in the next few decades is ever-present. In fact, the risk is probably increasing due to trends such as climate change, environmental degradation and frequent interactions between humans and disease-harbouring animals.
Throughout the unprecedented pandemic, The Hong Kong Jockey Club was more proactive than ever in deploying resources to help the community. We quickly set up an emergency fund, offering fast-track grants to NGO partners. The subsidies enabled the NGOs to support the vulnerable through everything from medication home delivery to outpatient services. Over one million citizens have benefited - and will continue to benefit - from some 240 projects.
Apart from healthcare support, we launched numerous other initiatives targeting different groups of citizens to navigate the prolonged impact of the pandemic. They include a facilities enhancement scheme to strengthen care homes’ pandemic preparedness, a talent development programme for first-time job seekers, and a food assistance programme supporting people facing financial hardship.
In order to quickly respond to individuals urgently in need, we established an emergency relief fund which plays an important role in providing timely assistance to victims of natural disasters, accidents and epidemics in Hong Kong. In addition, we provide solid backing to the government’s efforts to strengthen epidemic preparedness and foster cooperation in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) for joint disease prevention and control.
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Jockey Club Meal Delivery Programme for Home Bound Elderly
Jockey Club Facilities Enhancement Scheme for Pandemic Preparedness at Residential Care Homes
JC Echoes of Love Fund
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