New World Department Store China : Winning the “5 Years Plus Caring Company Logo” Sets a New Milestone for NWDS’ Sustainable Business Practices

11 May 2016

(11 May 2016 - Hong Kong) New World Department Store China Limited ('NWDS' or the 'Company'; Hong Kong stock code: 825), one of the largest owners and operators of department stores in Mainland China, is pleased to announce the honor of receiving the '5 Years Plus Caring Company Logo' presented by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. It is also the third year in a row that the Company was awarded a 'Bronze Award for Volunteer Service (Corporate)' by the Hong Kong Social Services Department to commend its outstanding performance in caring for the community, employees and the environment.

Love and care for the community is an integral part of the Company's principles. To this end, the Company had title-sponsored the 'NWDS Sowers Action Challenging 12 Hours Charity Marathon' for two consecutive years. NWDS Volunteer Team often works hand in hand with nonprofit organizations to carry out a diverse number of community care-related activities. Amongst the many events, the Company's volunteers teamed up with the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups to host a series of bubble soccer and tennis activities for under-resourced children. NWDS Volunteer Team together with the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society had also visited the live-alone elderly and brought joys to children in foster care by taking them on a fun packed trip to a farm. As a result, the volunteer team of its Hong Kong Office was also awarded a 'Bronze Award for Volunteer Service (Corporate)' by the Hong Kong Social Services Department for their dedicated volunteer work which totaled to 380 service hours in 2015.

The Company dedicates its business practices by the beliefs of 'Nurture Talent with Respect, Care and Trust'. To this end, the Company strives to provide generous employee benefits including essential medical health checks, paid statutory holidays, birthday, marriage, examination leave as well as maternity leave for working dads to ensure employees achieve work-life balance.

Environmental protection had always been one of the top priorities of the Company. Last year, the Company had respectively implemented the 'Green Office Policy' and Sustainable Office Guidelines to assist employees to save the environment including lowering power usage and reduction in greenhouse emissions. Breaking precedent, the Company had also implemented carbon audits into all of its stores and offices across the nation in 2015. Leveraging on the series of environmental friendly guidelines and in comparison to 2012 where retrofit lighting had not been executed, the Company had successfully reduced the power usage of each square meter by about 15 percent.

Launched by The Hong Kong Council of Social Service in 2002, the Caring Company Scheme ('the Scheme') aims at cultivating good corporate citizenship. It is specifically geared to build strategic partnerships among businesses and non-profit organizations to create a more cohesive society. The Scheme has three adjudication scopes, including 'Caring for the Community', 'Caring for the Employees' and 'Caring for the Environment', with a total of 18 criteria. All companies and organizations must fulfill a minimum of two criteria in each scope to be eligible for the logos.

Ms. Violet Chan, Assistant General Manager of Corporate Affairs and Chairman of Sustainable Steering Committee of NWDS, said, 'The Company understands that sustainable business practices is of paramount importance to the development of the community and operations of the group. This understanding drives us to continuously set higher targets in pursuit of better performance. The honor of being awarded the '5 Years Plus Caring Company Logo' is a milestone to us. The Company looks to the future by walking down the path of sustainable corporate practices to ensure there is no compromise to sustainable goals when they come into conflict with business practices and realties.'

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