Recently there are many discussions regarding the Club’s proposal of adding five more race days and 20 simulcast race days each season. I know that some of you would like to know more about a survey revealing Hong Kong people lost HK$20 billion of gaming money in those casinos in Macau in 2008. In fact, we have commissioned an independent consultant firm, which is familiar with casino operation and able to obtain business operation information from casinos in Macau, to conduct the study. By carrying out extensive market study and interviewing members of the Macau gaming industry, they have eventually come up with this figure.
Some individuals and concern groups, however, might have mistaken our point. I wish to clarify that it's not the Club's intention to encourage gambling by asking those who gamble in Macau casinos to bet with us. As I previously mentioned here in my blog, it’s not the money that lost by Hong Kong people, but the social impacts and other problems brought by junket operation that matter and arouse our grave concerns. It is us – people of Hong Kong – who have to bear the social problems that brought forward. I believe you would agree that it would be nevertheless a good thing if a portion of this sum can be retained in our regulated betting environment in Hong Kong, as, given to our model of operation, it would be the government and the community at large that will eventually be benefitted.
As always, the Club is committed to contribute to the local community. Earlier this week, we have donated HK$40 million to support the 2009 East Asian Games to be held in Hong Kong early December this year. The donation will cover a volunteer programme, the construction of a BMX park for the Games, and a subsidy scheme for student tickets. We hope all Hong Kong people will be proud of hosting the Games, while all people coming from the world can enjoy this world-class sporting event in Hong Kong.
We will carry forward this momentum with the official opening of our new Telebet Centre cum volunteers and training centre in Tin Shui Wai next Monday. Some 15 months ago, the Club and the Housing Department has jointly invested HK$60 million to convert a car park complex in Tin Shui Wai as the centre to fulfil our promise in helping those residents living in the district. With this conversion work completed in recent weeks, the volunteers and training centre will be opened next week, while the Telebet Centre will soon be in its first phase of operation, offering 1,000 jobs to the community in the initial stage.
Next Saturday, the Club will conduct a job fair in Tin Shui Wai to recruit new staffers to work in this new Telebet Centre. The Club will provide those selected trainees with appropriate training and development opportunities, so as to enhance their skills and knowledge levels. With the centre to provide up to 2,500 jobs in its full operation in future, I hope it can offer a stable income source to those staffers, in particular for those living in the district.
Anyway, the Club will continue to render our assistance and support to these needy groups through funding different charity and community projects. There will have another sum of money going to government coffers tomorrow as we will host a special daytime race meeting at Happy Valley. I know that many veteran racing fans love this kind of race meeting as it recalled their fond memories of daytime racing at Happy Valley, even before the completion of Sha Tin Racecourse in late 1970s. I agree that it's a rather special racing experience, so I hope you all will enjoy tomorrow's meeting a lot.
By the way, please be reminded that the rules of the Jockey Challenge pool will be amended starting tomorrow, as those Jockey Challenge points scored by jockeys with their substituted rides, will be discarded from counting. This amendment was made in accordance to the demands of our racing customers. So I hope you all can continue giving your staunch support to this fixed-odd betting pool in future.
Among 10 races on the card tomorrow, I will be paying my attention to Irish Jig in the Chiu Lung Handicap. The four-year-old was so consistent and finished in the stakes in seven of his eight starts this season. I will not be too suprising if he can win another race when stepping up in distance over 1650M tomorrow.
Talking about the Hong Kong Exchanges Challenge Cup, it is a very open race and I believe another four-year-old from the Moore’s yard, Willing Storm, should be able to deliver decent performance again over his winning trip of 1200M. However, the verteran Noble Man should also be respected as it’s always an underestimated horse.
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