In view of the health risk associated with the novel coronavirus and the global shortage of medical masks, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has been working to source and purchase masks for the protection of its employees and their families, as well as the community. The Club is pleased to announce that a stock of masks has now arrived. These will be donated to the community as well as distributed to all employees and their families.

Given the critical needs in hospitals, the Club will donate 80,000 KF-94 masks to the Hospital Authority, while 250,000 children’s medical masks will be donated to children from underprivileged families, with special education needs and ethnic minorities.

Furthermore, a special Emergency Relief Fund in the amount of HK$50 million will be introduced to offer emergency grants to NGOs to provide resources and necessary support to local communities. The grants aim to enable urgent access to hygienic and protective supplies, support access to accurate safety and education information, and assist with initiatives to enhance the physical and mental wellbeing of the needy. The Club will also offer an immediate funding of HK$23 million to NGOs to enable them to deliver “Care Packs” to 31,000 homebound elderly and the disabled. The Care Packs will contain essentials such as non-perishable food, personal hygiene and household cleansing products.

Regarding our employees, every one of them will receive medical masks. Staff who work on-site at Club facilities for both racing and non-racing operations will receive a pack of 50 masks for themselves and their families. These will be in addition to the masks the Club is providing to them on a daily basis to undertake their duties. A further distribution will be considered based on availability.

For staff who are required to stay in the Government’s quarantine centre, or are asked by the Club to stay in designated premises for self-isolation, or who are infected or whose close family are infected, as well as those who are involved in cross-boundary operations – these staff will receive a pack of 50 masks per week for their own and their families’ use.

The Club will also provide medical masks for employees working from home. The logistics and quantity of masks for distribution are currently being worked out.

It will continue to source and purchase medical masks for its employees and the community.