Richard Kingscote will return to Hong Kong, Ben Thompson will depart and Tony Cruz has been permitted to train beyond the age of 70, the Jockey Club’s licensing committee confirmed on Friday.

Kingscote is the only addition to a riding cohort that will lose Antoine Hamelin, who returns to France at the end of this term after five years in Hong Kong, the retiring Alfred Chan Ka-hei and Ben Thompson, who has opted to head back to Australia after nearly 18 months in the city.

A multiple Group One winner in his home country and Ireland, Englishman Kingscote booted home four winners – headlined by a dirt treble at Sha Tin on March 26 – during a six-week stint as injury cover earlier this year.

Thompson has ridden 15 winners during his time in Hong Kong but has struggled in recent months, with the 27-year-old heading to Sha Tin on Saturday in the midst of a 71-ride drought dating back to April.

All jockeys have been handed a full-season licence except for Kingscote, Keagan de Melo and James Orman, who are contracted until February 17.

The only changes to the trainers’ roster for next season have already been confirmed, with South African handler Brett Crawford the new addition and veteran Benno Yung Tin-pang calling an end to his 12-year career.

Crawford has been on the ground at Sha Tin and meeting owners in recent weeks. The 53-year-old officially starts training in Hong Kong on July 17, the day after the current season ends.

The licensing committee confirmed Cruz, 68, is eligible for an extension beyond the conclusion of the 2026-27 racing season, during which he will turn 70, until the conclusion of the 2029-30 racing season “provided he continues to satisfy the benchmarks set down by the club”.