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HKU receives largest single donation to date from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for the establishment of a Centre for Clinical Innovation and Discovery and an Institute of Cancer Care

28 Jun 2017

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (HKJC) has pledged a HKD $1.244 billion donation to the University of Hong Kong (HKU) for the establishment of a Centre for Clinical Innovation and Discovery (CCID) and an Institute of Cancer Care (ICC) (name to be finalised), the very first purpose-built cancer-specific research and service centre in the city, at Grantham Hospital (GH) by the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine (Medical Faculty).

This latest pledge from HKJC would be the largest single donation received by HKU to date, and will fund part of the construction works and various pre-commissioning programmes, laying the foundation for deeper collaborative partnership with the Trust for post-opening programmatic services to enhance public health.

An announcement ceremony was held today (June 28). Dr Simon S O Ip, Chairman of HKJC and Professor Arthur Li, Chairman of the HKU Council officiated at the event. Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR, was the Guest of Honour.

Other guests at the ceremony included HKJC Chief Executive Officer Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, and Executive Director, Charities and Community Mr Leong Cheung, Dr Ko Wing Man, Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, Secretary for Food and Health-designate, HA Chairman Professor John Leong, Dr Luk Che-chung, Cluster Chief Executive, Hong Kong West Cluster, HKTCHDA Chairman Mr Steve Lan, HKU President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Mathieson and Vice-President (Institutional Advancement) Mr Douglas So, Professor Gabriel Leung, Dean of Medicine, and Professor Rosie Young, Chairman of Board of Directors, HKU Foundation.

Professor Arthur Li thanked the HKJC for its generous support to the University. He said: “The Hong Kong Jockey Club has been a staunch supporter of HKU. This latest single donation will realise the establishment of the Centre for Clinical Innovation and Discovery and Institute of Cancer Care, which will form part of the significant undertaking by the Government, namely, a ‘Ten-year Blueprint for Hospital Development’. We are extremely excited to work with the Government, the Hospital Authority, the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association, and to partner with Hong Kong Jockey Club in the development of a new holistic cancer care paradigm for Hong Kong.” 

Dr Ip congratulated the HKU Faculty of Medicine on its 130th Anniversary and said it was a very important milestone for an institution which had made such a vital contribution to Hong Kong’s health and well-being. “As it happens, we began discussing this project two years ago at a time when the Jockey Club was celebrating its own 130th anniversary. Over those 130 years the Club has been pleased to make many contributions to our community, including to medical and health services – from supporting the construction of hospitals and clinics to funding cutting-edge medical research.”

He also noted the Club’s past donations to HKU. “Including this donation we have donated a total of HK$3 billion to the university over the years, some 50% of which has been in the field of medical and health. The HK$1.244 billion the Club has donated to this project was not only the Club’s largest single donation to the medical sector in the current financial year, but also the largest single donation ever received by the university.”

In the 2016 Policy Address of the Chief Executive, it was proposed that Grantham Hospital be redeveloped as a free-standing academic ambulatory care centre with an emphasis on cancer services. With the joint effort of the Government, the Hospital Authority (HA), and the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association (HKTCHDA), the redevelopment of GH is poised to have the concerted partnership of HKJC, supporting the grand plan of expanding and upgrading healthcare facilities for the benefit of the entire Hong Kong community.     

The establishment of the CCID and ICC has been incorporated into the master plan of the GH development. They will serve as platforms for the translation of innovation and discoveries in science and in models of care for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation, and for the development of a new holistic cancer care paradigm for Hong Kong. Once open, some 220,000 patients, carers and students are expected to benefit each year.

This exciting project will be another landmark in the history of HKU’s Medical Faculty of shaping the future healthcare landscape for a better Hong Kong through innovation and discovery. With the support of the HKJC, this project will be a most befitting symbol celebrating the two organisations’ longstanding commitment to the progress and societal advancement of Hong Kong.

About The University of Hong Kong

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is the first and oldest institution of higher learning in Hong Kong, and was founded in 1911, incorporating the Hong Kong College of Medicine (est. 1887).

For over a century, the University has dedicated itself to creating knowledge, providing education, and serving society. It has grown with Hong Kong and generations of its graduates have helped shape the city from which the University takes its name. Today, HKU has an established worldwide reputation for being a research-led comprehensive University with ten Faculties and a strong commitment to intellectual freedom, liberty and diversity.

HKU strives to attract and nurture outstanding scholars through excellence and innovation in its teaching and learning, research and knowledge exchange activities. Regarded as Asia’s Global University, HKU is a diverse community of over 30,000 students, including about 9,000 students from more than 100 countries around the world, and half of its academic staff are international faculty. HKU’s research areas and themes reflect a broad range of issues and bring together experts from diverse disciplines. The University has academic partnerships with over 300 universities and research institutes around the world. The University has 111 professors ranking in the top 1% scientists globally and conducts cutting-edge work in many fields.

About Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

The Medical Faculty of The University of Hong Kong is the longest established faculty in the tertiary sector in Hong Kong. Founded as the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese in 1887 and later renamed the Hong Kong College of Medicine in 1907, the Faculty was accorded the position of premier Faculty when the University was opened in 1912. Serving Hong Kong for 130 years, the Faculty is not only a medical school of learning, innovation, and enterprising; but also a school of morals, vision, and care. The Faculty and its predecessors have been playing a pioneering role in medical education, training and research since its establishment. 

From its modest beginning, the Faculty has now become the largest faculty of the University, with over 350 full-time academic and academic-related staff and 800 research and research-related support personnel. The undergraduate student population is about 2,900 and the postgraduate student population is about 1,500. The Faculty is comprised of 14 departments, School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Chinese Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Public Health and a number of research centres focusing on various strengths of research.

Media Enquiry:

The University of Hong Kong
Communications and Public Affairs Office
Trinni Choy
Tel: 2859 2606
Email: pychoy@hku.hk

Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
Evelyn Chan
Tel: 3917 9244 / 9131 2820
Email: evelync@hku.hk                                                 

Florence Cheng
Tel: 3917 9995 / 9216 1974
Email: florenc@hku.hk

Pinky Yu
Tel: 3917 9306 / 6823 6796
Email: pinkyyu@hku.hk

Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR is the Guest of Honour at the announcement ceremony.

Professor Arthur Li, Chairman of the HKU Council thanks the HKJC for its generous support to the University.

Dr Simon S O Ip, Chairman of HKJC congratulates the HKU Faculty of Medicine on its 130th anniversary.

(From left) HKSAR Chief Secretary for Administration Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, HKU Council Chairman Professor Arthur Li, HKJC Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip and HKJC Chief Executive Officer Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges officiate at the cheque presentation ceremony. 

HKJC has pledged a donation to HKU for the establishment of a Centre for Clinical Innovation and Discovery (CCID) and an Institute of Cancer Care (ICC) (name to be finalised), the very first purpose-built cancer-specific research and service centre in the city, at Grantham Hospital by the Medical Faculty.

A group photo taken at the announcement ceremony.