New World Group Connects Rural Villagers in the Mainland 

New World Development Company Limited ("NWD", "New World Group" or "the Group", Hong Kong stock code: 17) has been extending its support to the fundraising of Wu Zhi Qiao (Bridge to China) Charitable Foundation ("WZQ"), which builds bridges in rural parts of the Mainland so that local villagers could cross the river using bridges. Recently, the WZQ team built a bridge using their hands in Taibai Village, a rural area in Gansu, China, and the bridge is named "New World Wu Zhi Qiao". 

Around 80 volunteers who are teachers and students at Xian University of Architecture & Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong and other overseas countries, and volunteers from NWD started building the bridge from 25 July, with a common goal to allow villagers to cross the river safely and conveniently with bridge, instead of stones and tree trunks, improving their daily living substantially 

After one-week's effort by the volunteers, "New World Wu Zhi Qiao" was successfully completed. It has started to provide service for the villagers after the completion ceremony on 1 August. Mrs Carrie Lam, Honorary Advisor of WZQ, Sir David Akers-Jones, Honorary Chairman of WZQ, Dr Zhao Hui, Deputy Director-General of Rural Development Department, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China, and Ms Leonie Ki, Non-Executive Director of NWD officiated at the completion ceremony at Taibai Village. 

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China and the Army Day celebrating the founding of the People's Liberation Army on 1 August, officiating guests placed the flowers in commemoration of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the war. Volunteers also cleared up the tomb to commemorate the soldiers. 

The achievement of the People's Republic of China over the past 60 years is highly recognized. New World Group cares about the Mainland and the people. The Group commits to contribute to the development of the Mainland, and lend its hand to the needy. Mr Adrian Cheng, Executive Director of NWD and Honorary Chairman of Fundraising Committee, WZQ is pleased with this meaningful bridge-building activity, "The completion of "New World Wu Zhi Qiao" helps solve the problem of Taibai Villagers, who do not need to worry about crossing the river. Since 2007, New World Group has started to support WZQ. We hope that this "bridge-building spirit" can be sustainable. It not only helps the residents in building a concrete bridge, but also builds a spiritual bridge which connects people in the Mainland and Hong Kong." 

WZQ is a charitable organization with a mission to mobilize university students, professionals and volunteers from the community to actualize sustainable bridge projects, and build bridges in rural parts of the Mainland. Six bridges have been built in just two years. New World Group has been fully supporting this meaningful project and had donated HK$5 million in 2007 as its seed foundation. As the Honorary Chairman of Fundraising Committee, Mr Adrian Cheng also extended his support by organizing the first WZQ Charity Gala Dinner in 2008, raising a total of HK$4 million to sustain the coming bridge-building.

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