China News Service, Hong Kong, March 8 (Reporter Han Xingtong, Liu Xuanting, Wen Mengxin, Chen Ziyan, Zhu Xiaoming) It has been nearly 27 years since Hong Kong's return to China. The meaning of "horses running" has long been far more than a promise. It also represents Hong Kong's constant struggle and forge ahead. Spirit.
This is Ying's 17th year as the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and it is also the fifth anniversary of the release of the "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Plan". He has led the Jockey Club to seize the opportunity, from the advantages of "one country, two systems" to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The development space brought by the Bay Area continues to enrich Hong Kong’s horse racing spirit in all aspects. How does he view the development status and bottlenecks of Hong Kong's horse racing industry? What is the direction of future expansion? Ying Jiabai recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Network's "Hong Kong and Macao Living Room" and answered these questions one by one.
Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Ying Jiabao recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Network's "Hong Kong and Macau Living Room". Photo by China News Service reporter Li Zhihua
Excerpts from the interview transcript are as follows:
Reporter from China News Service: You have spent 17 years as the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Can you tell us how you became associated with the horse racing industry and what is your story with it?
Ying Jiabai: When I was a child, I started to get involved in horse racing because of my father. He raised some horses. When I got older, my first choice of sport was football, and I was obsessed with football. When I went to college I got back into horse racing and became more and more involved in racing and breeding. As a result, I became the youngest ever board member of the German Jockey Club and my job was to conduct a strategic review of horse racing and horse breeding in Germany. From that point on I became more involved in horse racing and established it as my career pursuit. .
On April 1, 1998, I had the opportunity to join the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and I think it was probably one of the best decisions of my life. I love Hong Kong, its energy, and its warm and hospitable city. In 2007, I became CEO. As you said, I have been the chief executive of the Hong Kong Jockey Club for 17 years. I think that's an achievement in itself.
Over the years, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has grown to new heights. (After the handover), Hong Kong implemented "one country, two systems" and the Hong Kong Jockey Club fully benefited from this policy. When we look back at the strategic development of the Jockey Club, we feel so strongly how we as an organization have contributed to the development of China. Therefore, the Hong Kong Jockey Club may be a unique example that proves that "one country, two systems" can allow an institution like ours to grow and make greater contributions (to society and the country).
Reporter from China News Service: People often say that "horses can run and dances can dance", which symbolizes the continued prosperity of Hong Kong after its return to the motherland. You have lived and worked in Hong Kong for many years. How do you understand Hong Kong’s horse racing culture?
Ying Jiabai: I personally believe that after Hong Kong's return and the implementation of "one country, two systems", the original way of life will continue, and horse racing is an important part of it. Horse racing reflects the life attitude of Hong Kong people. It is fiercely competitive, extremely fast, never gives up, and always strives to meet the next challenge. This also reflects the character of Hong Kong people.
How do we, as an institution, develop within the opportunities of “one country, two systems”? In 1998, the quality of Hong Kong's horse racing was such that no horse or race could enter any international competition. Now, some of the best horses in the world compete here, and the best competitions in the world take place here. Although the number of horses in Hong Kong only accounts for 0.9% of the world's total, 8% to 9% of the world's top horses are trained in Hong Kong. So we started as a regional organization and became a global leader in horse racing. This is the opportunity we seize in the development of Hong Kong horse racing.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club and I have long been convinced that we want to be part of the economic integration of the Greater Bay Area and the unique opportunities it provides. We have established what many have described as the “best” horse training center in the world in Conghua, Guangzhou, and we look forward to holding regular competitions in Conghua in the future. As an organization headquartered in Hong Kong, "one country, two systems" is definitely a rare opportunity for us, and we also hope to contribute to the development of the country.
Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Ying Jiabao recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Network's "Hong Kong and Macau Living Room". Photo by China News Service reporter Li Zhihua
Reporter from China News Service: As you said, the status of Guangzhou Conghua Racecourse will become more and more important in the future, so how is its positioning different from that of Shatin Racecourse and Happy Valley Racecourse?
Ying Jiabai: Happy Valley Racecourse is located in the center of the city. It is a night racing venue with a very urban atmosphere and is very dynamic. Sha Tin Racecourse mainly hosts large-scale international competitions such as the Longines Hong Kong International Race, where the best horses in the world compete.
Of course, we hope to allow more mainland horse owners to participate in and appreciate horse racing. We are studying how to improve the value chain of the horse racing industry under the guidance of the "National Horse Industry Development Plan (2020-2025)" released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China and the State Sports General Administration in 2020. In the long run, this is not only the horse racing industry, but also, for example, how many talents can be trained in horse sports. For example, we have trained about 700 to 800 people in rural areas who had nothing to do with horses before. Through our vocational training, They became jockeys, stable assistants, farriers and other different jobs.
Therefore, we can use Guangzhou Conghua as one of the training centers to cultivate talents for the mainland horse industry with great potential. I am convinced of this potential to create truly economically viable value chains.
Reporter from China News Service: This year marks the fifth anniversary of the issuance of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In the past, the Jockey Club has also actively cooperated with mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area to expand horse racing. Can you talk about the results?
Ying Jiabai: In the past few years, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has invested approximately HK$10 billion to HK$12 billion in Conghua, Guangzhou. You can see how many new job opportunities and new economic value we have created.
I think the economic integration of Hong Kong and the mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area is a unique opportunity (for us), and this is just the beginning. We are convinced that there is a lot of room for development in terms of training and capacity building. We also need jockeys, veterinarians, and farriers. These training programs can create job opportunities, and Guangdong Province is also very supportive of this.
Reporter from China News Service: You serve as the chairman of the "Asian Horse Racing Federation" and the "International Federation of Horse Racing Organizations" at the same time. You have very rich experience in the development of international horse racing. In your opinion, what is the development and level of Hong Kong's horse racing industry? Compared with countries and regions such as Japan and the United Kingdom, what are Hong Kong’s unique advantages in this field?
Ying Jiabai: Looking at the Hong Kong horse racing industry, in terms of talent training, we have the most advanced and systematic talent training plan in the world. We have done well in bringing in foreign talent.
We introduce the best overseas talents and connect these overseas talents with local talents. For example, in terms of jockeys and trainers, we introduce the best international talents and also cultivate local talents very systematically. We will send apprentice jockeys overseas to study for a year and a half, allowing them to develop in a different environment and learn new skills.
We have always had the vision of cultivating talents, and the concepts and foundations we have will certainly contribute to the development of the national horse industry to some extent. Currently, our development plans have been recognized internationally and successfully implemented in Hong Kong, and I believe we can do the same on the mainland.
Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Ying Jiabao recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Network's "Hong Kong and Macau Living Room". Photo by China News Service reporter Li Zhihua
Reporter from China News Service: Do you think there is room for improvement in the development of horse racing in Hong Kong? In which areas should we continue to strengthen, make breakthroughs and seek development in the future?
Ying Jiabai: I think one of our strategic disadvantages is that we don't have a horse breeding industry yet. At the moment we need to buy horses from all over the world and the market has changed and competition is very fierce for the quality of horses we need.
In the long run, China should develop the horse breeding industry. In this way, both from the perspective of supply chain and development opportunities, there will be further development in the future, including increasing the number of horses and improving the quality of horses. In the past two years, we have clearly foreseen extending the development of our existing business model to the horse breeding industry. This is the next step in our development of Hong Kong's horse racing industry.
Reporter from China News Service: After the epidemic, the Hong Kong SAR government is sparing no effort to attract tourists to return to Hong Kong. "Happy Wednesday" has always been a signature event of the Jockey Club. Can you talk specifically about the Jockey Club's measures to attract tourists? How effective is it so far?
Ying Jiabao: Our positioning of horse racing should not be just about betting. Firstly, it is a world-class sport, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club has the best jockeys, best trainers, best horses and best sporting events; secondly, our positioning of horse racing goes far beyond entertainment activities , we conducted in-depth customer research, we actually had 15 different customer groups, and we identified their entertainment needs, social needs. When people go to the racecourse, it is also a social gathering. They gather together, enjoy sports and enjoy good food in the restaurant. No racecourse in the world has so many restaurants and entertainment options. Our strategy has always been to create new experiences that meet our customers' needs.
Being customer-focused is what we did with the construction of Conghua Racecourse, for which we brought in one of the best architects in the world who has designed many amazing buildings. We have conducted in-depth research on the social entertainment needs of mainland consumers and hope to create a unique social experience combined with world-class sports. (over)