(22 April 2005, Hong Kong) In a joint effort, Green Power and NWS Holdings Limited (“NWS Holdings” or the “Group”; 0659.HK) today kicked off the Green Kindergarten Network, the first environmental education programme for pre-school children in Hong Kong. By providing kindergartens with free materials and training on environmental education, together with field trips for both students and teachers, Green Kindergarten Network aims at nurturing environmental awareness among the young generation.
During today’s launching ceremony, more than 3,100 students and teachers from 65 kindergarten members of Green Kindergarten Network produced the world’s largest handprint painting on a 370 sq m canvas (about 3,800 sq ft), targeting to break the Guinness World Record (See Appendix 1). The painting design was based on Vincent Van Gogh’s magnificent Wheatfield with Mountains in the Background to highlight the theme – We Love Nature. More than 60 volunteers from NWS Volunteer Alliance assisted during the printing work and the ceremony.
Dr Man Chi Sum, Chief Executive Officer of Green Power, commented, “Environmental education should be started at early childhood for the best results. However, kindergartens in Hong Kong usually do not have adequate resources for environmental education. When we presented the proposal of Green Kindergarten Network to NWS Holdings, we received full support from them immediately. The programme has already shown initial success, as nearly 40% of local kindergartens (more than 300 schools) have joined the network.”
Mr Tsang Yam Pui, Executive Director of NWS Holdings and Chairman of the Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, said, “NWS Holdings has long committed itself to being a good corporate citizen, in which environmental conservation plays an important part. Apart from being the sole sponsor of Green Kindergarten Network, NWS Holdings will turn a New World First Bus and a Citybus into “green education buses” to deliver green messages to the public across the territory. We will also help children to understand environmental practices in businesses by arranging visits to our bus depots, laundry plant and plant nursery.”
Officiating guests of the launching ceremony also included Mr Eric Chan, Acting Deputy Director of Environmental Protection Department, and Mr Cheung Wing Hung, Chief Curriculum Development Officer (Moral and Civic Education) of Education and Manpower Bureau. They joined Mr Tsang and Dr Man in putting their finishing touch on the handprint painting, which will be displayed outside New World Centre from 27 April to 30 May 2005.
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Attachments: Photos and Appendix 1 (world record on largest handprint painting)
This press release is also available on the Group’s website ( www.nws.com.hk).
Green Power was founded in 1988 by a group of dedicated volunteers concerned about local environmental affairs and problems. Green Power has always put environmental education as its first and foremost priority because they believe that education is the ultimate way of transforming our thinking and behaviour. Green Power established the Green School Network in Hong Kong in 2001 to encourage environmental education in cooperation with schools. Green Power also established a pioneering onsite Environmental Resource Centre for secondary and primary schools.
NWS Holdings Limited (“NWS Holdings”, Hong Kong stock code: 0659), the infrastructure and service flagship of New World Development Company Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 0017), embraces a diversified range of businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Macau. Its Infrastructure portfolio includes Roads, Energy, Water and Ports projects. Its Service & Rental division comprises Facilities Rental (the management of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and ATL Logistics Centre), Contracting (Hip Hing Construction Group and NWS Engineering Group), Transport (New World First Bus, Citybus and New World First Ferry), etc.
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Green Power
