| Dear Members,
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| I am writing to update you on the Club’s response to the fifth wave of the pandemic and to ask for your support and understanding for the measures we have put in place.
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| Since the beginning of the pandemic the Club has implemented stringent health measures. Our guiding principles are that none of our activities should create a public health risk and none should put the health and safety of our Members, employees or customers at risk.
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| In response to the latest wave we have strengthened these measures still further. This necessitated the closure of Clubhouses and Racecourse non-raceday restaurants on 13 February. After a thorough review the Club has now decided to extend the closure until 13 March.
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| This is not a decision we have taken lightly. Although the Club’s facilities are very popular with Members, we felt it was the most responsible action given our detailed risk assessment of the fifth wave and the rapid and significant increase in the number of cases.
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| Given that the Club’s restaurants serve over 4,500 diners per day, with close to 1,100 employees involved, the intense contact tracing and isolation approach the Club has adopted to keep Members and employees safe throughout the pandemic would be an enormous challenge at this scale. Whilst all recreation facilities will likely remain closed throughout March and April as required by the Government, we do hope to resume catering operations as soon as the situation stabilises.
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| In the meantime, and in appreciation of your support, we have put together a goodwill package comprising of HK$2,000, HK$1,500 and HK$1,000 worth of spending vouchers for Full, Concession Scheme and Racing Members respectively. These vouchers will be delivered to Members when we recommence operation.
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| We hope also that we can count on your support for the Club’s efforts to maintain racing and thus our support to the community through these difficult times.
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| Here I am very mindful of the Club’s purpose of “Betterment of Our Society”. It is our businesses that make this possible. We have been able to obtain permission from the Government to sustain racing under closed door conditions at the racecourses. (Unfortunately, this also means that no Members and even Owners with starters can be admitted during this period.) Accordingly, we have also implemented stringent health measures across all our racing operations since the beginning of the pandemic. We have strengthened them further in response to the latest wave. “Early detection, early segregation and early treatment”, as advocated by the Government, is our core and guiding principle. Thanks to these measures we have not lost a single raceday owing to the pandemic thus far. More importantly we have been able to provide essential tax and charity contributions and much-needed home entertainment for the community.
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| Equally the Club has stood strong with the community, and has been donating much more than usual. We have committed over HK$1.7 billion for COVID initiatives alone, including HK$209 million announced over the last two weeks to address the fifth wave. These are in addition to our regular donations.
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| Cumulatively over three million people have benefited from our initiatives on COVID over the last two years. For instance, we have provided care packs to the homebound elderly, disabled and low-income groups; established a food assistance programme for the food insecure; enabled over 100,000 underprivileged students to study online during school closure periods; and launched a talent development initiative to support first-time job seekers. Our COVID-19 Emergency Fund, recently topped up with an additional HK$100 million, provides fast-track grants to NGOs providing essential support. We have funded the distribution of “LeaveHomeSafe” compatible smartphones and data plans to 20,000 elderly and we are now providing RAT test kits to NGOs. These are just some of the Club’s initiatives. More are coming and you will be duly informed.
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| These are extraordinary times and they call for extraordinary fortitude. Most of all I believe they call for all of us to show compassion for the most needy members of our community. The Club is doing its upmost, maintaining its racing and proactively reaching out to those who need our help most. I have no doubt that, in the best traditions of the Club, Members will give their full support. This is a time when all of us must show how much we care about the community and stand together against this challenge.
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| The many initiatives of the Club have received heartwarming and encouraging feedback from the community and the membership. We have always tried to make the most significant and beneficial impact in difficult situations. The purpose and caring mindset of the Club has been strengthened through this challenge.
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| None of what the Club does would be possible without the commitment, diligence and dedication of our management and employees. We are truly grateful for the great work, self-sacrifice and understanding of everyone involved.
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| In the last many decades, Hong Kong has gone through many challenges. Each time we overcome them by our optimistic, pragmatic and ‘can-do’ Hong Kong spirit. This time is no different. I look forward to seeing you at the Clubhouses and Racecourses before too long.
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| With my best wishes to you and your family,
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