The Hong Kong Stadium

Lack of international-standard sports facilities has been a long-term problem for Hong Kong: nearly 6M people in about 1000km2 inevitably leads to other priorities in land allocation. Nevertheless, this deficiency has long been a cause for concern, not only to professional and amateur sportsmen and women, but also the masses of children who spend most of their days in multistorey schools. The solution, as is often the case in Hong Kong, came from the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, which operates the only legal betting franchise in the Territory. A staggering HK$lbn is now wagered at nearly all the 40 race meetings held annually at the Club’s two racecourses and after taxes and expenses the Jockey Club is able to donate considerable funds for a wide variety of public projects.

P.G. Ayres, R.N. Cole and R. Forster