HONG KONG — The fifth edition of the Philanthropy for Better Cities (PBC) forum opened on Monday at the West Kowloon Cultural District, bringing together approximately 2,000 delegates from philanthropy, sports, business, government, academia, and the social sector to mark its 10th anniversary.
The two-day event, themed “Leaping for Impact,” was organized by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust together with the Institute of Philanthropy.
Drawing inspiration from Olympic and Paralympic values, the forum examines how disciplines such as focus, resilience, and teamwork in sport can help drive enduring social change.
In a speech at the opening ceremony, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government is committed to establishing the city as a global center for philanthropy, leveraging its unique position as a bridge between East and West under the “one country, two systems” principle.
“With our enabling tax regime, dedicated family office strategy, and our unwavering commitment to doing good, we can make a difference for you and your philanthropic legacy. This year’s Forum is the perfect place to start,” he added.
Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) Chairman Martin Liao said that over the past decade, PBC has engaged more than 10,000 participants and featured over 380 speakers from more than 40 countries and regions, making it one of the world’s largest philanthropic assemblies.
At the opening ceremony, HKJC released its inaugural Charities Trust Impact Report, which introduces a new three-tier measurement framework to evaluate impact at the project, program, and Trust levels.
The report emphasizes directing resources to the most marginalized populations, designing initiatives for long-term sustainability, and incorporating flexible, extended follow-up periods tailored to the life cycle of each program.
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Leading foundations participating in PBC 2026 include the Gates Foundation, The D.H. Chen Foundation, the Lee Hysan Foundation, the Yao Foundation, the Sanofi Foundation, the Tencent Charity Foundation, The Majurity Trust, the Lien Foundation, and the Essl Foundation.
