(HONGKONG, 5 July 2003) The essay competition on Hong Kong people’s fight against SARS, co-organised by NWS Holdings Limited (“NWS Holdings”, Stock code: 0659) and Ming Pao, was successfully completed with nearly 7,500 entries. At the prize presentation ceremony today, Mrs. Carrie Lam JP, Director of Social Welfare, heaped praises on the essays for they came to show the dynamics of Hong Kong people in fighting against the epidemic.
All five groups of competition (primary 1-3, primary 4-6, junior high, senior high and open) have drawn enthusiastic responses. Participants came from all walks of life, including students, housewives, education workers, medical practitioners and even inmates. The youngest participant was six years old, while the oldest was 85.
“The response to this essay competition is more than encouraging,” said NWS Holdings’ Chief Executive Officer Mr. K. L. Chan at the ceremony. “The entries we received were very impressive. They all showed that SARS did not make us any weaker, but stronger than ever. This epidemic has demonstrated the sense of commitment and cohesiveness of Hong Kong’s medical practitioners as well as the general public.”
Mr. Chan continued, “To document this battle against SARS, the winning entries, along with news extracts and photos, as well as interviews of the frontline staff and volunteers of NWS Holdings have been complied into a commemorative book. Part of the copies will be presented to the frontline medical staff; and some will be sold at a charity sale. The proceeds of which will be donated to the “Project Blossom” to support families affected by SARS.”
Winner of the Primary 1-3 Group Chan Ka Chung is only eight years old. He wrote about how his mother fed him with healthy recipes and soup every day during that time. The first-prize winner of the Open Group Leung Pui Yee, whose brother worked in the hospital during the SARS outbreak, shared how their family supported each other and treasured the moments spent together.
At the presentation ceremony, the first-prize winners were turned into “stars” as they signed their autographs on the books for buyers.
The charity sale of the books will continue to be held on weekends in July and August at the G/F, New World Center.
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NWS Holdings Limited (“NWS Holdings”, Stock code: 0659.HK), the flagship servicing company of New World Development Company Limited (Stock code: 0017.HK), embraces a diversified range of businesses in Hong Kong, Macau and in Mainland China. These businesses can be broadly grouped under three main divisions: service, traditional infrastructure and ports. Its service arm comprises Facilities (Urban Property Management, General Security and the management of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre), Contracting (Hip Hing Construction and NWS Engineering), Transport (First Bus and First Ferry), Financial and Environmental. The traditional infrastructure portfolio includes energy, toll roads, water and sewage treatment projects, bridges, and a tunnel. For ports, NWS Holdings is principally engaged in container and cargo handling, logistics and warehouse management.
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