Racing tourism circuit
Under the plan, the Club would leverage Conghua Racecourse as a strategic platform for deeper Guangzhou-Hong Kong cooperation, supporting world-class racing and equine events across the region and creating a multi-destination racing tourism offering for both mainland Chinese and international visitors.
Citing a substantial rise in tourist attendance at its racecourses, the Club argued that recent data demonstrate the attractiveness of Hong Kong’s racing tourism.
The Conghua leg of the circuit is set to move from concept to reality this year, with the Club’s first race meeting on the mainland scheduled for October 31st, 2026, although betting will not be available within mainland China.
The submission builds on a racing tourism push dating back to Chief Executive John Lee’s 2024 Policy Address, which included a since-shelved proposal to relax the rule barring under-18s from racecourses.
Beyond racing
The submission also recommends developing the Conghua International Racing Development Centre as an international equine import-export and quarantine hub, expanding mutual recognition of vocational qualifications between Hong Kong and Guangdong, and extending Hong Kong’s disease-free zone expertise to regions such as Xinjiang.
On the sports economy, the Club highlighted its internationally recognized Racing Laboratory and offered its expertise in integrity assurance and governance, noting its role in supporting the government in combatting illegal gambling.
The government aims to publish the final blueprint of the Five-Year Plan in the third quarter of this year.
Dingnews.com 20/07/2026