Top Performing HR teams acknowledged at the SCMP/HKIHRM People Management Awards 2006

Hong Kong, February 6, 2007 – The South China Morning Post and the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management, in association with HKUST, today acknowledged the top performing organizations and their respective HR teams at the inaugural People Management Awards.

The Overall Winner was Luen Thai Holdings Ltd, who also scooped the award in the Large Enterprise Category. Their winning project involved developing from scratch a supply chain city in southern China which required major recruitment and capability building programmes. Runners up in the Large Enterprise Category were Moët Hennessy Asia Pacific and The Hong Kong Society for the Aged.

Winner of the Medium Enterprise Category was The Eaton Hotel for a project which focused on developing an all-round service culture, and saw the hotel’s overall revenue, F&B revenue and market share all increase year on year. The runner up in the Medium Enterprise Category was Pfizer Corporation HK Ltd.

Raymond Tang Yee-Bong, Chairperson, Equal Opportunities Commission was the guest of honour at the Awards presentation ceremony and presented trophies to the overall winner.

In his keynote speech Mr. Tang said, "In today’s global economy, equal opportunity has become an essential part of business. Getting and keeping the right person for the right job means increasing productivity and competitiveness."

Commenting on the awards, KT Lai, HKIHRM President said that the aim of the competition – to uplift and promote HR professionalism and its importance to any organization – was achieved. "This first competition has reflected that management is now more focused on the HR role, recognizing its importance and is increasingly using it as a strategic tool for business."

The SCMP/HKIHRM People Management Awards were judged in three main stages and participants had to enter one of the following areas: Transformation of the HR function; Business impact through learning and development; Improving business performance through engaging staff. A 14-member awards organizing committee screened initial entries, which were then judged and filtered down to a shortlist of five. A five member judging panel then heard oral presentations from the short listed companies, and made unannounced visits to their premises to cross-check their project status.

– End –

About South China Morning Post Publishers Limited

The company publishes the South China Morning Post and the Sunday Morning Post, Asia’s premier English language daily and Sunday newspaper with the highest circulation of any English language newspapers in Hong Kong. South China Morning Post Publishers Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SCMP Group Limited. which is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

For more information contact Amanda Turnbull, Director, Marketing and Communication on 2250-3130 or email amanda.turnbull@scmp.com

Operation Santa Claus 2006 Reaches New High With Over HK$16 million of Charity Funds Raised

Operation Santa Claus 2006, co-organized by Radio Television Hong Kong & the South China Morning Post, raised a record-breaking amount of HK$16,012,598 for 27 beneficiaries in Hong Kong. The closing ceremony of the event was held today at Island Shangri-La Hotel to celebrate the culmination of the year-end campaign.

The guests of honor, the Wife of the Chief Executive Selina TSANG, the Honorary Patron of the campaign, Director of Broadcasting CHU Pui Hing and SCMP Editor-in-Chief Mark CLIFFORD were invited to reveal the final figure by launching a video with people from different walks of life displaying the result together. Guests and representatives of the beneficiaries also shared their feelings about the campaign and made an appeal for the needy. Attending guests included also the Director General of Invest Hong Kong, Mike ROWSE, Legislators Fernando CHEUNG, Alan LEONG and representatives of corporate donors and beneficiaries.

Since its establishment, Operation Santa Claus has raised more than 104 million dollars for many charities in Hong Kong to help them pursue their work (including 9 million for tsunami victims in 2004). For seven weeks of the campaign this year, community and donor events gathered hundreds of individuals in an effort that showed Hong Kong’s solidarity towards the needy. These include not only sports competitions, such as the Five-a-side football tournament, Wing Ding Squash tournament and golf competitions, but also the Santa Hash, a motorcycle toy ride, treasure hunt and musical performances by the Hong Kong Singers and various choirs. A range of charity sales – from coffee to teddy bears also helped fill in the coffers.

Twenty-five major donors joined this year’s campaign, including five corporate donors that raised more than HK$1million – Cathay Pacific ($3 million), Merrill Lynch ($1.5 million), Credit Suisse ($1.3 million), Morgan Stanley ($1 million) and JP Morgan ($1 million). The campaign was also well-supported by over 100 small and medium-sized corporate donors as well as 25 schools. Individual donors responded generously and the amount of in-kind donations collected (e.g. toys, book, basic necessities and food) was also impressive.

Operation Santa Claus 2006 Closing Ceremony was broadcast live on RTHK Radio 3 AM 567, FM97.9 Happy Valley/ Jardine’s Lookout/ Parkview Corner, FM 106.8/HK South, FM107.8/ Tseung Kwan O/ Tin Shui Wai .Web surfers could view the web cast version of the closing ceremony on the official Operation Santa Claus website (www.rthk.org.hk/special/santa2006 and osc.scmp.com) on the following day.


For more information, please contact: Teresa Cheng, CCU, RTHK 2339 6573 / 6376 3930

Operation Santa Claus 2006 Reaches New High With Over HK$16 million of Charity Funds Raised

Operation Santa Claus 2006, co-organized by Radio Television Hong Kong & the South China Morning Post, raised a record-breaking amount of HK$16,012,598 for 27 beneficiaries in Hong Kong. The closing ceremony of the event was held today at Island Shangri-La Hotel to celebrate the culmination of the year-end campaign.

The guests of honor, the Wife of the Chief Executive Selina TSANG, the Honorary Patron of the campaign, Director of Broadcasting CHU Pui Hing and SCMP Editor-in-Chief Mark CLIFFORD were invited to reveal the final figure by launching a video with people from different walks of life displaying the result together. Guests and representatives of the beneficiaries also shared their feelings about the campaign and made an appeal for the needy. Attending guests included also the Director General of Invest Hong Kong, Mike ROWSE, Legislators Fernando CHEUNG, Alan LEONG and representatives of corporate donors and beneficiaries.

Since its establishment, Operation Santa Claus has raised more than 104 million dollars for many charities in Hong Kong to help them pursue their work (including 9 million for tsunami victims in 2004). For seven weeks of the campaign this year, community and donor events gathered hundreds of individuals in an effort that showed Hong Kong’s solidarity towards the needy. These include not only sports competitions, such as the Five-a-side football tournament, Wing Ding Squash tournament and golf competitions, but also the Santa Hash, a motorcycle toy ride, treasure hunt and musical performances by the Hong Kong Singers and various choirs. A range of charity sales – from coffee to teddy bears also helped fill in the coffers.

Twenty-five major donors joined this year’s campaign, including five corporate donors that raised more than HK$1million – Cathay Pacific ($3 million), Merrill Lynch ($1.5 million), Credit Suisse ($1.3 million), Morgan Stanley ($1 million) and JP Morgan ($1 million). The campaign was also well-supported by over 100 small and medium-sized corporate donors as well as 25 schools. Individual donors responded generously and the amount of in-kind donations collected (e.g. toys, book, basic necessities and food) was also impressive.

Operation Santa Claus 2006 Closing Ceremony was broadcast live on RTHK Radio 3 AM 567, FM97.9 Happy Valley/ Jardine’s Lookout/ Parkview Corner, FM 106.8/HK South, FM107.8/ Tseung Kwan O/ Tin Shui Wai .Web surfers could view the web cast version of the closing ceremony on the official Operation Santa Claus website (www.rthk.org.hk/special/santa2006 and osc.scmp.com) on the following day.


For more information, please contact: Teresa Cheng, CCU, RTHK 2339 6573 / 6376 3930

SCMP/Harper’s Bazaar StyleAwards defines the Style Scene in Hong Kong

January 19, 2007 – Hong Kong – South China Morning Post and Harper’s Bazaar have joined hands for the second time to co-host the SCMP/Harper’s Bazaar StyleAwards 2007 to celebrate style and present the 12 winners of the awards.

“Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city known for its vibrant and entrepreneurial personality and is one of the frontrunners on the global style map. The StyleAwards were created to recognise the influential individuals who have contributed to defining the unique style of Hong Kong. The StyleAwards serve to inspire these style makers to keep ahead of trends, to constantly reinvent themselves or their products, and to applaud them for excellence in their category of style,” said Nancy Valiente, Managing Director, South China Morning Post Publishers Limited.

This year’s StyleAwards consist of 12 distinctive categories: Car, Gadget, Airline, Flagship
Store, Spa, Boutique Hotel, Restaurant, Nightspot, Model, Designer, Covergirl and StyleMaker of the Year. The StyleMaker award will be presented last to the one special individual who has demonstrated his or her vision and creativity in shaping the style of Hong Kong.

“The Boutique Hotel and Flagship Store categories are newly added to the StyleAwards this
year in recognition of their growing popularity in Hong Kong. Consumers today have
become more and more sophisticated in their tastes and are constantly on the lookout for
destinations that offer unique experiences and personalised service,” commented Angie
Wong, Managing Director of SCMP Magazines Publishing Limited.

The finalists for the StyleAwards went through a rigorous three-stage selection process which started with the initial nomination by the editors of SCMP and Harper’s Bazaar. The
nomination list was then short listed by an independent StyleAwards Steering Committee
made up of five of Hong Kong’s most stylish experts in the areas of architecture, branding,
fashion, culture and art: Mr. Gary Chang, Mr. Francis Gouten, Ms. Claire Hsu, Ms. Joanne Ooi and Mr. David Tang. A public vote via SCMP.com and Harper’s Bazaar determined the final winners. The results from the final polling were subject to scrutiny by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The StyleAwards gala dinner will take place on the evening of January 19 at the Island
Shangri-La Ballroom to honour the winners. The event will bring together over 300 guests
including high-level decision makers, business leaders, and the most stylish movers and
shakers in Hong Kong. Integral to the evening’s celebration will be a sumptuous meal
prepared by Michelin star chef Roland Durand, who has been flown in from Paris especially
for the event, and a ‘street dance’ performance by the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation.

-End-


About the SCMP/Harper’s Bazaar StyleAwards

In celebration of Hong Kong’s spirit of Style, the South China Morning Post and Harper’s Bazaar have created the StyleAwards, a series of awards recognising people, places and products that are the epitome of style. This year, 12 categories, ranging from fashion, dining, entertainment, motoring and living, will be applauded for their panache and most importantly, how they shape the style of Hong Kong.

For further information, please contact:

Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide

Ms. Kristal Hui
Tel: 2884 8584
Email: kristal.hui@ogilvy.com




Ms. Queenie Tsao
Tel: 2884 8544
Email: queenie.tsao@ogilvy.com



Scope of work of PricewaterhouseCoopers

The results were subject to scrutiny by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Certified Public Accountants, whose work was limited to certain procedures requested by the Company to agree the results summary prepared by the Company to voting forms collected and provided by the Company to PricewaterhouseCoopers. The work performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers in this respect did not constitute an assurance engagement in accordance with Hong Kong Standards on Auditing, Hong Kong Standards on Review Engagements or Hong Kong Standards on Assurance Engagements issued by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants nor did it include provision of any assurance or advice on matters of legal interpretation or entitlement to vote.


SCMP/Harper’s Bazaar StyleAwards defines the Style Scene in Hong Kong Photo Captions

The city that never sleeps – the Island Ballroom at Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong is transformed into a bustling metropolis, complete with building facades twinkling with excitement, setting a backdrop of a night to remember for over 300 guests.
"Bout time", a vibrant performance by Hong Kong Youth Art Foundation commences the stylish evening with a big bang.
Nancy Valiente, Managing Director, South China Morning Post Publishers Limited and Angie Wong, Managing Director of SCMP Magazines Publishing Limited present the Style Award in the Car Category to Mr Herbert Adamczyk, Managing Director, Italian Motors (Sales & Service), for Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.
StyleAwards steering committee members
Mr. Francis Gouten, Gouten Consulting and
Mr. Gary Chang, Founder, EDGE Design Institute, present the Style Award in the Gadget Category to Mr. Chester Wong, Director, for Xbox 360TM.
StyleAwards steering committee members
Mr. Francis Gouten, Gouten Consulting and
Mr. Gary Chang, Founder, EDGE Design Institute, present the Style Award in the Airline Category to Mr. Charlie Stewart-Cox, General Manager, Marketing, for Cathay Pacific Airways.
StyleAwards steering committee members
Mr. Francis Gouten, Gouten Consulting and
Mr. Gary Chang, Founder, EDGE Design Institute, present the Style Award in the Flagship Store Category to Mr. Dinesh Kandiah, Public Relations Director for Landmark Louis Vuitton Maison.
StyleAwards steering committee members
Ms. Joanne Ooi, Creative Director, Shanghai Tang and Ms. Claire Hsu, Founder, Asia Art Archive, present the Style Award in the Spa of the Year Cateogry to Mr. Paul Jackson, Executive Assistant Manager, Food and Beverage of Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong.
StyleAwards steering committee members
Ms. Joanne Ooi, Creative Director, Shanghai Tang and Ms. Claire Hsu, Founder, Asia Art Archive, present the Style Award in the Boutique Hotel Category to Mrs. Karen Li, Managing Director of Lanson Place Hotel
StyleAwards steering committee members
Ms. Joanne Ooi, Creative Director, Shanghai Tang and Ms. Claire Hsu, Founder, Asia Art Archive, present the Style Award for the Restaurant Category to Mr. Victor Wu, Owner of ARMANI / BAR HK
StyleAwards steering committee members
Ms. Joanne Ooi, Creative Director, Shanghai Tang and Ms. Claire Hsu, Founder, Asia Art Archive, present the Style Award in the Nightspot Category to Mr. Rocky Wong, Managing Director for Club No. 9
Fanny Fung, Editor, SCMP and Josephine Chan, Publisher of SCMP Hearst Publications present the SCMP/Harper’s Bazaar Style Award in the Model Category to Amanda Strang.
Fanny Fung, Editor, SCMP and Josephine Chan, Publisher of SCMP Hearst Publications present the SCMP/Harper’s Bazaar Style Award in the Fashion Designer Category to Barney Cheng.
Winner of the SCMP/Harper’s Bazaar StyleAwards Covergirl Category Zhou Xun expressed her appreciation through a video.
Nancy Valiente, Managing Director, South China Morning Post Publishers Limited and Angie Wong, Managing Director of SCMP Magazines Publishing Limited present the SCMP/Harper’s Bazaar StyleAwards 2007 Style Maker of the Year to Allan Zeman.
Here’s to Style! Style mavens and key executives toast in style to celebrate the SCMP/Harper’s Bazaar StyleAwards 2007.

SCMP Group Limited Interim Results Announcement 2008

Highlights

  • Revenue from continuing operations: HK$544.7 million
  • Operating profit from continuing operations: HK$142.9 million
  • Profit attributable to shareholders: HK$124.5 million
  • Earnings per share: $0.08
  • Dividend: $0.06
HONG KONG, September 1, 2008 – SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) ("the Group") announced today its interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2008.

Turnover from continuing operations was HK$544.7 million, representing a 12% decrease compared with the same period last year. Profit attributable to shareholders dropped 29% to HK$124.5 million, mainly due to a decline in notices advertising following the change in listing rules in June 2007 and the volatile stock market.

Operating costs and expenses before depreciation and amortization dropped 1% to HK$377.5 million, within which production costs decreased by 10%, mainly because of a decline in average newsprint cost from US$635 to US$604 per metric ton and lower consumption. The Board of Directors declared an interim dividend of 6 HK cents per share.

Business Performance
The Group’s publishing revenues dropped 13% and accounted for 96% of total revenue of the Group. EBITDA and operating profit margins declined due to the loss of notices revenue. The audited circulation of South China Morning Post and Sunday Morning Post both increased 1% to 107,080 and 81,827 copies respectively, despite the rise of free newspapers.

Display advertising revenue increased 6%, contributed mainly by rising demand for creative advertising executions, higher advertising volume and yield generated from Post Magazine. The first ever panorama advertisement was published in May 2008 and a record number of wrappers were sold in the first half of 2008.

Recruitment advertising revenue decreased 2% due to slow down of recruitment activity as a result of the worsening global economy. Some cost cautious clients are shifting towards lower cost alternatives, which has benefited Jiu Jik and online recruitment.

Notices revenue dropped 72% or $90.2 million, within which IPO related revenue dropped $42.5 million owing to the volatile stock market. Number of IPOs and revenue per IPO were both lower than last year. Revenue from result and other corporate announcements dropped HK$47.7 million after the implementation of the HKEx rules which abolished the requirement to publish announcements and notifications in newspaper in two different phases last year. The first half results reflected the full impact of the changes in listing rules.

Revenue from Magazine Division grew 5% to HK$67.4 million. Advertising sales from Cosmopolitan and Harper’s Bazaar remained strong, despite the fierce competition on newsstands.

The results of the Group’s other businesses included a HK$5.2 million gain on the disposal of the video and film post-production business and a 46% increase of revenue from music publishing mainly from the sale of one compilation album. Investment properties’ revenue increased 55% from HK$8.9million to HK$13.8 million.

Outlook
Commenting on the business prospects ahead, Kuok Hui Kwong, Executive Director of the Group said, "We are cautious about the second half of 2008. Given the uncertain economic outlook, we expect growth in certain advertising segments to slow down."

With the change in listing rules on company announcements last year, the Groups expects revenues from corporate notices to be consistent with the first half of this year while revenue from IPO announcements will depend on the market situation.

"We will continue to invest in opportunities which leverage our brand’s value across multiple platforms while keeping a steady focus on our core publishing business," concludes Kuok.

-End-


About South China Morning Post

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publishers in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is the leading English language newspaper in Hong Kong and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, CosmoGirl! and Automobile magazines.

This press release can be downloaded from www.scmpgroup.com.

For media and investor enquiries, please contact:

Adeline Lim / Joyce Chan
Tel: (852) 2565 3120 / 2250 3115
Fax: (852) 2565 2429
Email: communications@scmp.com
investor.relations@scmp.com

South China Morning Post Partners with Brightcove to Deliver New Multimedia Services

HONG KONG and BOSTON, June 2, 2008 – The South China Morning Post today has launched new multimedia services and advertising options, in partnership with Brightcove, the world’s leading Internet TV platform..

For users of the South China Morning Post’s website – scmp.com – the Brightcove technology provides enhanced multimedia services such as high-quality video viewing, social distribution options (RSS feeds, e-mail links and embeddable players) and extensive video archives.

For advertisers, Brightcove’s technology enables the South China Morning Post to offer new advertising formats such as pre-roll and post-roll video, sponsored icons and logos, and banner/island ads coupled to videos.

"We’ve been producing multimedia content since 2005, and we needed a service that would evolve with our needs and the quickly changing multimedia landscape," scmp.com Assistant Director David Savelson said.

"After an extensive review of the technology in the market, we concluded that Brightcove is simply the best on offer today. Working with Brightcove enables SCMP to focus on what we do best – create content. Brightcove’s video technology is plug-and-play and it provides a first-class user experience to both viewers and advertisers."

"The South China Morning Post has a long history of not only producing award-winning journalism, but also taking advantage of rich media storytelling to engage readers," said Jeremy Allaire, Brightcove Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We are excited to be working in the region and look forward to partnering with such a highly respected news organisation as it grows its advertising-supported Internet video offerings."

The South China Morning Post is Brightcove’s first newspaper client in Asia and Greater China.

-End-


About South China Morning Post

The South China Morning Post is Hong Kong’s premier English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Its online platform, scmp.com, reaches a global audience of China watchers with daily breaking news, multimedia articles and interactive forums. Striving to maintain the highest standards among the world’s quality newspapers, the South China Morning Post receives constant international recognition. It received 51 awards in 2008 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability.

About Brightcove

Brightcove is the leading Internet TV platform used by media publishers worldwide to program, distribute and monetize video on the Web. The award-winning platform has empowered organizations of all sizes to launch and grow Internet video initiatives with unparalleled choice and control. Brightcove is dedicated to harnessing the inherent power of the open Internet to transform the distribution and consumption of media. For more information, visit www.brightcove.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Lydia Lee / Joyce Chan
The South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd.
Tel: (852) 2250 3120 / 2250 3115
Fax: (852) 2565 2429
Email: communications@scmp.com


Josh Hawkins
Brightcove
Tel: 1 617 395 0487
Email: jhawkins@brightcove.com

South China Morning Post launches Olympic Micro-site

HONG KONG, April 30, 2008 – The South China Morning Post announced today the launch of Olympic micro-site – www.scmp.com/olympics.

The brand new Olympic micro-site is the ultimate guide to the Games with all the latest news and insights into the Beijing Olympics. Featuring interviews with the stars, in-depth analysis written by SCMP’s award-winning journalists, event information and photo gallery, the new site is every Olympics watcher’s passport to the Games. Fabulous prizes are given away through weekly online events and promotions.

Commenting on the launch of the new site, scmp.com Assistant Director David Savelson said, "The 2008 Olympics go beyond the world of sport. They are also about the emergence of China on the world stage. We have been the leading English source of independent news and analysis about China for over a century and we see this micro-site not only as a platform to provide comprehensive Olympics coverage for our readers but also a gateway to this once in a life time event."

Designed by Euro RSCG 4D Hong Kong, the new SCMP Olympic micro-site is available for free public access with first-hand information about this China’s event of the century.

-End-


About South China Morning Post

The South China Morning Post is Hong Kong’s premier English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Its online platform, scmp.com, reaches a global audience of China watchers with daily breaking news, multimedia articles and interactive forums. Striving to maintain the highest standards among the world’s quality newspapers, the South China Morning Post receives constant international recognition. It received 51 awards in 2008 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Lydia Lee / Joyce Chan
Marketing & Communications
Tel: (852) 2250 3120 / 2250 3115
Fax: (852) 2565 2429
Email: communications@scmp.com

SCMP Group Limited reports another solid year of growth

HONG KONG, March 31, 2008 – SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) ("the Group") reported a record year with net profit of $548.1 million and recurring operating profit of $397.7 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, the highest level in the past 7 years. Group businesses benefited from strong economic growth in Hong Kong, the mainland and Macau. Also, a single-minded focus on strengthening the core publishing business and managing costs over the last few years has enabled the Group to take full advantage of the buoyant economy to deliver this year’s strong performance.

"Although the market environment was challenging in 2007," says Kuok Hui Kwong, Executive Director of SCMP Group Limited. "We managed to expand by revamping our major business websites and newspaper design. The positive response from readers and advertisers to these changes reinforced the SCMP brand."

Business Performance

Group revenue increased 3% to $1.25 billion, compared with $1.21 billion in 2006. Net profit attributable to shareholders reached $548.1 million, 62% higher than $338.6 million in 2006.

Newspaper publishing revenues grew 3% and accounted for 84% of Group revenue. Operating profit from principal activities rose 4% to $357.3 million. Boosted by strong consumer spending, a rising stock market and business expansion across most industries, display advertising revenue grew 10%, outperforming the 7% growth in newspaper ad spending in Hong Kong (source: Admango). Recruitment advertising revenue grew 7%, mainly driven by ad volume growth. The recruitment market for junior to middle levels has been very active this year, driving up Jiu Jik and online recruitment advertising revenues by 27% and 35%, respectively. Online advertising revenue rose 79%.

Despite a growth of 7% in the first half, results announcements and other corporate notices revenue dropped 60% following the abolition of mandatory newspaper announcements in the second half of the year. IPO advertising remained strong in 2007 with the Group’s market share increasing from 87% in 2006 to 94% in 2007 and advertising volume was 7% lower than 2006.

The circulation of South China Morning Post and Sunday Morning Post showed a moderate increase of 2% and 1% respectively, with growth in subscriptions, hotel sales and China market most noticeable.

Operating profit at the magazine publishing division rose 30% on revenue growth of 6%. Cosmopolitan and Harper’s Bazaar continued to lead the market despite intense competition for advertising dollars and circulation sales. Operating results of the video film business improved following a restructuring and suspension of operations in Guangzhou. Provisions for asset impairment were made in book publishing resulting in a net loss position. Part of the book publishing operation was suspended in early 2008.

Operating costs before depreciation and amortization increased 3%. Staff costs rose 4% while average newsprint cost rose 1% from US$613 per metric ton in 2006 to US$616 in 2007. Rent and utilities were up 20% or $7.2 million, reflecting the full year impact of the renewal of the office space lease in November 2006.

Outlook

The Group expects 2008 to be a year with both challenges and opportunities. The sub prime crisis, concerns about an economic recession in the US and its potential impact on the world economy and volatility in the financial markets all give rise to a cautiously optimistic outlook for the year.

The full year impact of the listing rule change and the trend towards eIPO will put pressure on notices advertising revenue in 2008. In view of these changes, the Group plans to increase its online revenues by enhancing its investor relations website SCMPIR.com to drive more page views and advertisers. The Group also seeks to attract more companies’ brand and investor relations advertising by creating more relevant content within the business pages of the newspaper.

"We are glad to have maintained solid revenue and profitability levels in an intensely competitive climate," concludes Kuok. "We expect this trend to continue into the foreseeable future as we continuously adapt to new challenges, just as we have done for many decades."

-End-


About SCMP Group Limited

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is the leading English language newspaper in Hong Kong and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. Other publication titles of the group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, CosmoGirl! and Automobile magazines.

To learn more about the SCMP Group, go to scmpgroup.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Lydia Lee / Joyce Chan
Marketing & Communications
Tel: (852) 2250 3120 / 2250 3115
Fax: (852) 2565 2429
Email: communications@scmp.com

For investor inquiries, please contact:

Perry Wu
Investor Relations
Tel: (852) 2565 2380
Fax: (852) 2838 7525
Email: investor.relations@scmp.com

SCMP Group Strengthens Executive Bench With Key Hires

Hong Kong, October 5, 2009 – The SCMP Group, publisher of the South China Morning Post, has recently made several key hires of top executives to lead the Group’s ongoing efforts to drive strategic growth.

Reporting directly to Ms. Kuok Hui Kwong, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SCMP Group, the new appointments signal a strong commitment to applying top talent to drive SCMP Group business in Hong Kong and internationally.

"Strong executive leadership is an essential foundation as we continue building a leading media company." said Ms. Kuok. "We now have a very strong team to help best take advantage of the many opportunities presented in the dynamic media industry."

The following appointments are effective immediately:

Mr. Eric Levin
Chief Financial Officer

Eric Levin is responsible for managing all corporate financials for SCMP Group, in addition to providing executive leadership for information technology, corporate administration and content resources functions. Prior to this appointment, Levin was the CEO and founder of City On Demand, a media company that operates local cable channels and internet video sites in the United States. He previously held senior management roles including CFO at Home Box Office in the US. Levin replaces Ponch Poon who decided to leave the company to pursue other career interests.

Mrs. Dora Poon
Director, Human Resources

Dora Poon is responsible for the full spectrum of human resources functions including staff, compensation and benefits, training and development, performance management and employee relations. Poon was formerly Group Human Resources Director at various businesses of the Hutchison Whampoa Group including corporate headquarters, retail, hotel, telecommunications, and manufacturing.

Ms. Huijin Kong
Director, Corporate Development

In this newly created position, Huijin Kong is responsible for shaping and executing cross-business and cross-functional efforts to support the SCMP Group’s growth and transformation. Kong was formerly with McKinsey & Company in the United States and China. She served leading financial institutions in the US, PRC, and India on strategy, organizational change, and leadership development.

-End-


About South China Morning Post

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publishers in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post is Hong Kong’s premier English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Its online platform, scmp.com, reaches a global audience of China watchers with daily breaking news, multimedia articles and interactive forums. Striving to maintain the highest standards among the world’s quality newspapers, the South China Morning Post receives constant international recognition. It received 46 awards in 2008 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Most recently, the South China Morning Post received 12 awards at the 2009 Society for Publisher’s in Asia (SOPA) editorial excellence awards, more than any other media company. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines.

For media enquiry, please contact:

Earl Lui
Manager, Brand Marketing
Tel: (852) 2680 8121
Fax: (852) 2680 8158
Email: earl.lui@scmp.com

REG CHUA APPOINTED EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AT SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST Senior hires made after resignation of veteran editor C.K. Lau New Managing Editor David Lague to join Chua and top editorial team

Hong Kong, July 2, 2009 – The South China Morning Post has appointed Reg Chua as Editor-In-Chief. Chua has strong Asia journalism and news media management experience and most recently was a senior editor at the Wall Street Journal in New York. The appointment was made after the resignation of SCMP’s editor C.K. Lau who is leaving to pursue personal interests after a long and distinguished career with the century-old title.

"During his tenure at the Post, C.K. has played a key role in strengthening and improving our editorial operations," said Kuok Hui Kwong, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of South China Morning Post Publishers Limited. "A committed and well-respected professional, he has contributed significantly to the Post and to the overall media community in Hong Kong."

Chua, 48, was most recently a deputy managing editor at The Wall Street Journal based in New York, where he led development of the Journal‘s computer-assisted reporting capabilities and oversaw the paper’s graphics.

"I’m very pleased to be joining the South China Morning Post and to becoming part of a storied newspaper with a long and proud tradition of high-quality journalism as it builds on its unique position as witness and chronicler of China’s rise on the world stage and Hong Kong’s role in it," said Chua. "I look forward to working with the Post‘s newsroom to cover an important story, build stronger ties with our readers in Hong Kong and attract new ones, wherever they are, who have an interest in China."

Prior to moving to New York, Reg was the longest-serving editor of the Journal’s Hong Kong-based Asian edition, where he steered the paper’s award-winning coverage of the 1997-98 financial crisis, China’s economic development, the rising threat of terrorism in the region, SARS, and the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami.

"We wanted someone with knowledge of Hong Kong and the region as well as strong journalism and management credentials," said Kuok. "We found that in Reg and are confident and excited about his joining our team."

Further strengthening the Post‘s editorial team, David Lague has been appointed as Managing Editor, reporting to Chua. As a member of the editorial senior management team, Lague will be involved in daily newsroom operations, oversee quality and standards, training and special projects. Lague was a news and features writer with the South China Morning Post in 1987-88, and has served as a reporter and editor in the Asia-Pacific region for more than two decades. He has held roles with the International Herald Tribune and the New York Times, and was managing editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review. Lague also was the China correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian.

-End-


About South China Morning Post

The South China Morning Post is Hong Kong’s premier English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Its online platform, SCMP.com, reaches a global audience of China watchers with daily breaking news, multimedia articles and interactive forums. Striving to maintain the highest standards among the world’s quality newspapers, the South China Morning Post receives constant international recognition. It has won 39 awards in 2006 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability.

About SOPA

The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) was founded in 1982. It represents the interests of many notable international, regional and local newspaper, magazine and digital publishers as well as related industry partners in Asia. SOPA is dedicated to best practices in professional publishing and committed to responsible journalism. Visit SOPA website at www.sopasia.com.

For media enquiry, please contact:

Michael McComb
Director, Marketing & Communications
Tel: (852) 2680 8163
Fax: (852) 2680 8158
Email: communications@scmp.com