(7 January 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, organized the “2014/2015 Outstanding Volunteers and Volunteer Stars Selection Contest” (“contest”) with a theme of “Practice Caring and Volunteering with NWDS” from November to December 2015. This year’s contest especially introduced new awards for employees’ families and friends to recognize outstanding volunteers for their enthusiastic participation in FY2015. Sun Yan, one of the Volunteers Stars, rendered as much as 380 service hours in the year, which accounted for nearly 6% of the Company’s total, demonstrating the volunteering spirit of “participating, solidarity, dedication and enthusiasm”.

 Since the establishment in April 2013, NWDS Volunteer Team has expanded continually. As of the end of June 2015, the accumulative service hours amounted to over 16,500. In order to further widespread the volunteering spirit, the volunteer team expanded the recruitment scope to employees’ families and friends in the second recruitment drive since its establishment, from March to April 2015 to boost the total number of volunteers by 9% to over 2,500 people. The contest aims at recognizing the hard work and unreserved contribution of the volunteers who are enthusiastic in serving the community. Two awards, “Volunteer Star Nominator” and “Volunteer Star Family”, were newly introduced this year to encourage more employees give back to society together with their families and friends.

 The winners are selected mainly based on the number of service hours and the frequent of service. After stringent assessment, Sun Yan from Shenyang New World Department Store - Zhonghua Road Branch Store, Yang Lu from Lanzhou New World Department Store and Pan Qianqian from Changsha New World Trendy Plaza were named “2014/2015 Volunteer Stars”. Tian Huizi from Beijing New World Trendy Department Store won the award of “2014/2015 Volunteer Star Nominator”, while Fan Yongmei from Chengdu New World Department Store won the award of “2014/2015 Volunteer Star Family”. Three Volunteer Stars served a total of 532 service hours in 112 voluntary activities throughout the year, which is equivalent to 1.7 hours of community service per day. On the other hand, the winner of “Volunteer Star Nominator” contributed 50 hours with her families and friends, while the winner of “Volunteer Star Family” contributed 56 service hours, gathering a large force to care for the community.

 Ms. Violet Chan, Corporate Affairs Assistant General Manager and Chairman of Sustainability Steering Committee of NWDS, said, “Regardless of one’s age, sex, race, NWDS’ employee or not, everyone can volunteer as long as there is a will. Over the past year, volunteers and their families and friends had acted in response to the recruitment drive of the volunteer team and had actively participated in voluntary activities to care for the community and the environment, spreading the volunteer spirit to every corner. We would like to take this contest as an opportunity to recognize their spirit of dedication, and to encourage colleagues to join the volunteer team with their families and friends so as to deliver greater positive energy to the community.”

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