International horse racing practices and local regulations  

HongKong’s current age restriction stands in contrast to international norms. In countries like the UK, Australia, and Japan, children can attend horse races when accompanied by an adult, although some areas of the racecourse may remain restricted. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has expressed support for these potential changes, seeing an opportunity to expand the sport’s audience and make it more family friendly. The HKJC has also committed to maintaining stringent betting controls to prevent underage participation.  

Revitalising Hong Kong’s tourism industry  

These initiatives are part of a larger government strategy to revitalise Hong Kong’s tourism sector by diversifying its offerings. In his recent policy address, Lee highlighted several tourism avenues, such as yacht tourism, panda tourism, eco-tourism, and horse racing, as key areas of development. Horse racing is seen as a unique feature of Hong Kong’s identity and a major draw for international visitors.