Hong Kong, June 19, 2012 – SCMP Group Ltd (SEHK:583) and Hearst Magazines International, a unit of Hearst Corporation, today announced the formation of joint venture company, SCMP Hearst Hong Kong Ltd to publish ELLE and related titles, its website, the Car and Driver website, as well as taking on further custom publishing business from 3^rd July 2012.

This move further reinforces the longstanding relationship SCMP Group Ltd has with its joint venture partner Hearst Corporation. The two companies began their publishing venture in Hong Kong with the launch of the Hong Kong edition of Cosmopolitan in 1984, followed by Harper’s Bazaar in 1988, and CosmoGIRL! in 2001. The three titles have now become Hong Kong’s leading women’s magazines in respective market segments.

ELLE, a brand owned by Lagardere Active, is the world’s largest fashion magazine brand with 43 international editions reaching over 21 million people across the globe from the UK to the USA, Europe to Africa, South America, Russia, Asia and the Middle East.

Adding ELLE to its magazine portfolio ensures that SCMP Hearst will cement its position as the premier publisher of quality international lifestyle publications in Hong Kong.

Duncan Edwards, president and CEO of Hearst Magazines International, said, “Through our partnership with SCMP, we are already publishing a very successful edition of Cosmopolitan and we’re confident that this move will take ELLE in Hong Kong to even greater success than before.”

Josephine Chan, director for SCMP Magazines Publishing Ltd added, “It’s a very natural fit for us to welcome ELLE into our portfolio of magazine titles. We’ve enjoyed a great partnership with Hearst over the years, and our existing titles continue to grow from strength to strength, both in print and digital. We have a dedicated team that knows the fashion, beauty and style market in Hong Kong better than anyone, and they’re all excited to be able to both leverage and grow their expertise with ELLE.”

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About The SCMP Group

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s world renowned 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. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, insightful analysis and opinion, 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 55 awards in 2011 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, Luxehomes, Classified Post, JiuJik, smartjob.com, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines. For more information, please visit us at www.scmpgroup.com.

About Lagardère Active

Lagardère Active is one of Lagardère SCA’s four corporate branches, together with Lagardère Publishing (books), Lagardère Services (press distribution and services) and Lagardère Unlimited (marketing and management of sports broadcast rights, talent representation for athletes and artists). Creator of multimedia content, Lagardère Active has leading positions in the businesses it operates, including magazines publishing, audio-visual (radio, TV and TV production), digital (pure players sites, mobile applications and tablet applications) and advertising.Lagardere Active, the number one of French Magazine Publisher and owner of the ELLE brand and its derivatives, licenses them:
– To Hearst in 14 countries (corresponding to 15 editions of ELLE).
– To 26 other partners (corresponding to 27 editions of ELLE).
The ELLE network today includes 43 international editions and the ELLE Decoration network includes 25 international editions.

About Hearst Magazines International

As the largest U.S. publisher of magazines worldwide, Hearst Magazines International, a unit of Hearst Corporation, publishes more than 300 editions for distribution in more than 100 countries. Major titles include powerful brand equities like Cosmopolitan and ELLE, both international super-brands with more editions than any other women’s magazines in the world; ELLE DECOR, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s BAZAAR, Popular Mechanics, and Seventeen. In addition, Hearst Magazines International publishes other titles through joint ventures, including Men’s Health and Runner’s World in the U.K., Grazia and Madison in Australia, and The Robb Report in Russia and China. In Great Britain, a wholly-owned subsidiary, Hearst Magazines UK, publishes 24 magazines and 22 websites. Hearst Magazines publishes 20 titles in the U.S.

For enquiries please contact: Media Enquiries: Director of Marketing Anne Wong [email protected]

Hong Kong, June 11, 2012 – South China Morning Post last night reaffirmed its legacy of editorial excellence with the winning of five top prizes and six honourable mentions at the Society of Publishers in Asia Editorial Awards 2012.

South China Morning Post dominated in the breaking news category with two wins; top prize went to Shi Jiangtao and Will Clem for their insightful report on the Wenzhou rail disaster and runner up prize went to Clifford Lo, Simpson Cheung, Jennifer Ngo, Lo Wei, Amy Nip, Olga Wong and Yvonne Liu on their ensemble reporting on the Mongkok fire tragedy.

Shi Jiangtao also won top honours in Environmental Reporting for his report with Paul Mooney on Heavy Metals, an expose on the devastating impact of heavy metal mining in China. Simon Scarr, already a multiple award winner for his infographics in the South China Morning Post, chalked up another accolade at the SOPA Awards with his “7 Billion Who Shape The World” work.

SCMP long-time cartoonist Harry Harrison earned top Editorial Cartooning recognition for his Beijing Spring series, and Denise Tsang, Senior Business Reporter, won the Business Reporting award of excellence for her reports on “The Cost of Making it in Guangdong”.

Further honourable mentions went to Neil Gough, for “Family Turmoil at the House of Ho” in the Scoop Award category and Cheung Chi Fai for “Secret Village Land Deals” in the Investigative Reporting category. “90 Years of Communism in China” gave Alex Nicoll, Stephen Case, Simon Scarr and Joe Lo an honourable mention for best Multimedia News Presentation, and Catherine Tai, Post Magazine’s art director received a mention for her magazine design for the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Jennifer Huang also earned a mention in the lifestyle coverage category for her article about lead contaminated ceramics, “Poisoned chalices”.

The Society of Publishers in Asia is a non-profit regional body incorporated in Hong Kong in 1982. Its board and awards sub-committee comprise editors, executives and academics in the field of publishing and journalism across Asia, and entries for the Awards span regional editions of the top name international newspapers, news agency services plus local and regional titles. Over the past few years, South China Morning Post has consistently ranked amongst the highest in number of accolades received by a single publication in the SOPA Awards, reinforcing its position as one of the most respected newspapers for editorial excellence in the region.

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About SCMP Group Ltd and South China Morning Post

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s world renowned 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. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, insightful analysis and opinion, 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 55 awards in 2011 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines. For more information, please visit us at www.scmpgroup.com.

For enquiries please contact:

Anne Wong
Director of Marketing
South China Morning Post
[email protected]

Hong Kong, May 2, 2012 – Hong Kong based SCMP Group (SEHK:583) announced today the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, to take over from Ms Kuok Hui Kwong from 25^th June 2012.

Mr Robin Hu, 53, began his career in the Information Technology sector in the early 80s, and was until recently Senior Executive Vice President, Chinese Newspapers Division and Newspaper Services Division for Singapore Press Holdings, where he spent the past 8 years. In that role, he was responsible for managing the group’s three national Chinese dailies, Lianhe Zaobao (联合早报), Lianhe Wanbao (联合晚报), Shin Min Daily (新明日报) and mypaper (我报), a bilingual free newspaper, as well as overseeing the group’s various newspaper, event cum exhibition and magazine operations, in addition to China business development.

Mr Hu commenced his China experience as the Regional Director (China) for the Singapore Economic Development Board based in Shanghai and Suzhou, between 1995 and 1998. In 2000, he moved to Beijing and later Hong Kong and joined Asiacontent.com Ltd where he successfully launched many vertical portals, including China.CNET.com, mtv-china.com, eonline.com.cn and DoubleClick China.

“Robin brings to the SCMP Group a rare combination of media expertise, in-depth operational know-how of the publishing and IT industries, plus hands-on digital media and China knowledge,” said Ms Kuok Hui Kwong, whom Mr Hu will be replacing. Ms Kuok will retain her current Executive Director board position with the SCMP Group.

Mr Hu graduated from the University of Kent with a BSc in Mathematics and the University of Wales with an MSc in Computer Science. Regarding his new move, he remarked, “I am honoured to be given the opportunity to lead and contribute to the continued success of such a highly esteemed institution as the SCMP. I have the highest respect for the heritage of this company, its products and people. I look forward to getting in step with the thrilling heartbeat of this great city and the opportunities a growing Chinese economy can bring.”

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About The SCMP Group

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s world renowned 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. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, insightful analysis and opinion, 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 55 awards in 2011 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, Luxehomes, Classified Post, JiuJik, smartjob.com, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines. For more information, please visit us at www.scmpgroup.com.

For enquiries please contact:

Media Enquiries:
Director of Marketing
Anne Wong
[email protected]

Hong Kong, March 27, 2012 – SCMP Group Limited (SEHK:583) today announced the audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Net profit attributable to shareholders for the year 2011 was $371 million, 26% above 2010. Net profit from normal business operations increased 34% from $128 million in 2010 to $172 million in 2011. Net revenue rose by 7% to $946 million, driven by higher revenues across all divisions.

A key factor attributing to the healthy result was the improved economic environment and strong advertising sales, which boosted the group’s newspaper division revenues. The group also saw a significant growth in digital advertising, growth in their Magazines Division and their marketing services business, a unit established in 2009. Cost control measures also contributed to the result.

Operating profit from principal activities increased 25% from $158 million to $198 million. Basic per share earnings increased by 26% to 23.7 cents and full year dividend paid and payable increased by 33% to 8 cents a share.

“2011 has been a very encouraging year for our group,” said the Managing Director & CEO Ms Kuok Hui Kwong. “We prepared ourselves for a changing industry and a cautious advertiser market and focused our efforts on strengthening our brands and our products, particularly South China Morning Post, as well as boosting our digital offerings. The net result shows we have done the right thing and have a very bright future ahead of us.”

The newspaper division has continued to perform strongly throughout the year. Combined full year print and online readership figures for 2011 for South China Morning Post, Sunday Morning Post increased from 388,000 to 396,000 according to the Nielsen Media Index 2011 Year End report. Despite competition from a flourishing free newspaper market and overall declining print readership in the industry, combined print-only readership of the two titles showed a healthy growth from 368,000 to 382,000. Audited circulation figures from HKABC also showed encouraging year on year growth in circulation for South China Morning Post and Sunday Morning Post, from 101,389 and 79,216 to 103,328 and 80,357 respectively for the July-Dec half-year timeframe.

“The SCMP Group is actively powering up to meet the challenges of change, and seizing new opportunities with both confidence and careful consideration” remarked Dr David Pang, Chairman of SCMP Group, “the foundation is being laid for our group to grow and establish a stronger presence as a media force, not just in Hong Kong, but on the global stage.”

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About The SCMP Group

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s world renowned 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. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, insightful analysis and opinion, 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 55 awards in 2011 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, Luxehomes, Classified Post, JiuJik, smartjob.com, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines. For more information, please visit us at www.scmpgroup.com.



For enquiries please contact:

Media Enquiries:
Director of Marketing
Anne Wong
[email protected]

STEPHEN SEAWRIGHT

JF Asset Management has won two of the top four prizes in the South China Morning Post Fund Manager of the Year Awards 2000.

The awards are made to groups with the best performing funds in four different time frames – one, three, five and 10 years.

JF Asset Management won the awards for five and 10 years, Citigroup Asset Management for three years and Goldman Sachs (Asia), for one year.

Another 106 awards were made to individual funds in 36 categories.

In presenting the awards, Financial Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said the investment fund industry had registered strong growth in Hong Kong.

"In the five years to December 2000, the number of authorised funds grew from about 1,200 to nearly 2,000, a rise of more than 60 per cent," he said.

"But the net asset value of those funds grew from US$82 billion to about US$311 billion, an increase of almost 280 per cent.

"The industry is growing well and, I believe, it will continue to do so."

Mr Tsang said Hong Kong’s funds industry had been boosted by the introduction of the Tracker Fund and the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF).

Annual MPF contributions were expected to be about HK$10 billion initially and to reach HK$60 billion after 30 years.

Strong growth was expected in China’s investment funds industry following its accession to the World Trade Organisation.

Mr Tsang said the mainland has 40 closed-end funds operated by 14 companies.

"Compare this with the nearly 2,000 authorised funds available in Hong Kong and you will realise the enormous potential for growth in the mainland," he said.

Fund managers had a difficult year in 2000 as equities struggled against concerns about rising inflation in the United States and the bursting of the technology stock bubble last spring.

"The year 2000 was a particularly tough one for fund managers," said South China Morning Post business editor Grant Clelland.

"This year’s winners demonstrate that even in such tough times, it is possible to make money if you know the right places to invest – a tribute to good fund management."

The judging of the awards was carried out by Standard & Poor’s Fund Services.

Hong Kong, February 20, 2003 – South China Morning Post Fund Manager of the Year Awards 2002 today recognised Hong Kong’s leading fund managers for their outstanding performance.

The award competition was organised by South China Morning Post in association with Standard & Poor’s Fund Services and sponsored by Hang Fung Gold Technology Group.

In the leading awards, for the overall performance by fund management groups, UBS Global Asset Management took the honour for the 3-year category, while the 5-year and 10-year group awards were won by Threadneedle Asset Management Limited and Investec Asset Management respectively.

Among the other awards, from a pool of more than 1,600 retail-oriented funds registered for sales, 75 winners were recognised from a total of 34 sectors.

Financial Secretary Mr. Antony Leung, was the guest of honour at the Awards presentation ceremony and presented the award certificates to the winners.

Commenting on the performance of the winners, Executive Editor – Business, South China Morning Post, Mr. Ray Bashford said, "2002 was an especially difficult year made worse by the tragedy on September 11, 2001. The world markets have also been hurt by adverse international economic conditions. However, as we can see from these awards, fund houses were doing their best to meet investors’ needs and maximise their returns."

Managing Director, Standard & Poor’s Investment Services for Asia-Pacific, Mr. William J. Reidy commented, "It is important, particularly in the current market environment where the geopolitical concerns such as the risk of war between the US and Iraq are eminent, and the sub par economic growth in North America persists, to look at the experience of the investment manager, caliber of the research team, and risk management of the fund in detail prior to any investment decision. We believe an award at the Fund Manager of the Year Award is a valuable factor that investors should consider when subscribing to a fund."

South China Morning Post Fund Manager of the Year 2002 was assessed using a methodology known as Relative Risk Adjusted Ratio as was the case last year. This ratio is to assess a fund’s performance on a risk-adjusted basis and the consistency of that performance. Three time periods, namely three years, five years and ten years, were analysed for this year’s Awards. The one-year category has been removed to better align the evaluation criteria with the development of the Hong Kong fund market.

(Click to enlarge and download)

Left to right: Managing Director – Asia Pacific, Standard & Poor’s Fund Services, William J. Reidy; Managing Director, Investec Asset Management, Stewart Aldcroft; Client Acount Director, Threadneedle Asset Management Limited, Catherine Soulier; Head of Greater China Office, UBS Global Asset Management, Teh-Hsiu Fu; Executive Editor – Business, South China Morning Post, Ray Bashford.	Left to right: Head of Greater China Office, UBS Global Asset Management, Teh-Hsiu Fu; Client Acount Director, Threadneedle Asset Management Limited, Catherine Soulier; Financial Secretary, Antony Leung; Managing Director, Investec Asset Management, Stewart Aldcroft.

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About South China Morning Post Publishers Limited

South China Morning Post Publishers Limited publishes the South China Morning Post and the Sunday Morning Post, the premier English language daily and Sunday newspapers with the highest circulation and readership of any English language newspaper in Hong Kong. The South China Morning Post is a leading commentator on Greater China and is read widely by government officials, business people, professionals and academics globally. It is also the market leader for display and recruitment advertising in Hong Kong. Through its subscription – based online service, SCMP.com, news and information are also delivered to an international audience through multiple online channels. The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SCMP Group Limited whose shares are listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

Contact:

Prudence Lai
Public Relations Manager
South China Morning Post
Tel: (852) 2565 2415
Fax: (852) 2565 2429
Email: [email protected]

– Final results for the year ended December 31, 2002

Highlights

The comparison presented below covered 12-month period ended December 31, 2001

• Total turnover: HK$1364.9 million (2001: HK$1,693.7 million; down by 19 %)
• Net profit: HK$102.5 million (2001: HK$165.7million; down by 38%)
• Net profit before revaluation deficit: HK$177.5 million (2001: HK$206.4 million; down 14%)
• Earnings per share: HK 6.02 cents (2001: HK9.55 cents; down by 37%)
• Earnings per share before revaluation deficit: HK 10.42 cents (2001: HK 11.9 cents; down 12%)
• Final dividend distribution per share: HK 4 cents
• Total dividend distribution per share for the year: HK 8 cents (2001: HK 8 cents)

Hong Kong, March 24, 2003 – SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) ("the Group") today announced its final results for the year ended December 31, 2002.

Turnover for the year was HK$ 1364.9 million, and net profit after tax was HK$102.5 million, which included a gain of HK$25.1 million from disposal of certain businesses and a provision of HK$75 million for the revaluation deficit in the investment properties as at December 31, 2002. Excluding the revaluation deficit of HK$75 million, the Group would report a net profit after tax of HK$177.5 million or earnings per share of HK10.42 cents.

The Group’s total revenue in 2002 was down 19% from the previous year, primarily due to the downturn in advertising revenue from the newspaper business and disposal of certain subsidiaries. Total operating costs were down by 15%. Staff costs decreased by 13% following from headcount reductions undertaken during the year. Total headcount of the Group in December 2002 was 1,293 down from 1,570 in December 2001 due to disposal and suspension of certain businesses and magazine titles, and overall reduction of headcount. Cost of production materials and sales was down 14%, primarily due to lower newsprint prices and usage. Rental and utilities decreased by 32% due to disposal of recreation club and education businesses and the closure of nine Health Plus stores, though this was partially offset by net increase of 11 Daily Stop outlets.

The Board declared a final dividend distribution of HK 4 cents per share. Together with the interim dividend distribution of HK 4 cents already paid out, dividend distribution for the year totaled HK 8 cents, representing a payout ratio of 122% of the net profits for 2002.

Commenting on the business prospects ahead, Mr. Kuok Khoon Ean, Chairman of SCMP Group, said, "The continuing weak economic conditions, compounded by the geopolitical events in the Middle East, have made it extremely difficult to predict the prospects for 2003. However, over the last two years, the Group has taken measures to strengthen its core business, which included (i) disciplined cost controls, (ii) improvements in the quality and presentation of the South China Morning Post to provide a more attractive product for both our readers and advertisers alike, and (iii) near completion of a major capital expenditure program to increase and upgrade our production and systems infrastructure, including two new colour presses, new editorial publishing, advertising, circulation management and management information systems. As we enter the centenary year of the South China Morning Post in these challenging times, the Group is well positioned for a rebound, to maximize revenue potential and profitability when the market recovers."

About SCMP Group Limited

SCMP Group Limited is the holding company of South China Morning Post Publishers Limited, Hong Kong"s leading publisher of English language newspapers (South China Morning Post and Sunday Morning Post), and, through other Group companies, is involved in the publication of magazines, retailing, commercial and business video production and investments. The Group’s shares are listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

###

For media enquiry, please contact:

Prudence Lai
Public Relations Manager
Corporate Communications
SCMP Group Limited
Tel: (852) 2565 2415
Fax: (852) 2565 2429
Email: [email protected]

Hong Kong, February 5, 2007 – The South China Morning Post today announced the appointment of Daniel Kwan as China Editor with immediate effect. Kwan will be responsible for overseeing China coverage and managing news bureaus on the mainland and in Taipei. He will continue to report to Wang Xiangwei, SCMP’s Deputy Editor.

Kwan, who holds a BA in Economics from York University, Toronto and an EMBA from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, joined SCMP in 1988 and spent his first year in the company’s executive training program. On completion he joined the China desk as a reporter. In 1995 he was promoted to Deputy China Editor and in 2005 to China News Editor.

Commenting on this appointment Mark Clifford, Editor-in-Chief said, "I’m pleased to be able to appoint such a long-time SCMP staffer to this key position. Daniel brings a wealth of mainland contacts and experience to this role."

Kwan’s appointment follows the promotion of Wang Xiangwei from China Editor to Deputy Editor reporting to CK Lau, the paper’s veteran newsman recently promoted to Editor.

– 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 [email protected]

HONG KONG, November 26, 2013 – Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor provided the opening speech for the Hong Kong Spirit Awards ceremony last night at a VIP gala dinner recognising the eleven award winners.

The Spirit of Hong Kong Awards is one of the highlights of South China Morning Post’s Celebrating Hong Kong initiative, inspired by their 110th Year Anniversary. The awards are the culmination of seven months of editorial features about unsung heroes, and were given to ten individuals that were selected by a panel of VIP judges, with an 11th award selected by reader poll, voted the People’s Choice Award.

The awards recognise everyday unsung heroes, individuals who have inspired others with their extraordinary achievements, dedication to a cause, acts of kindness or community spirit. “The Spirit of Hong Kong Awards stand for the spirit of people who have made Hong Kong what she is today, that can-do spirit, that perseverance, that never-give-up spirit, in a very low profile manner; they are not people seeking glory, vanity or publicity” remarked Mrs Lam.

Sir David Akers-Jones, the Chairman of the Judging Panel of the awards made an emotional speech in which he lamented not being able to award all the thousands of deserving, ordinary people, who quietly each day represent the spirit of our city; from bamboo scaffolders to tram drivers, and from doctors and nurses to those struggling through great hardship.

The winners included heroes such as Lee Ming-sun, who made a tough decision to rescue a drowning man during the Lamma ferry disaster last year rather than search for his wife. Carmen Yau Ka-man, a victim of the degenerative disease Spinal Muscular Atrophy, gave a stirring speech about using what little time she has left with the use of her limbs to help others who are worse off. Despite suffering a disease that will ultimately deprive her of all muscle function, she travels daily to work, often waiting 45 minutes or longer at a bus stop for a bus with wheelchair access.

Blind student Mandy Tsang Tsz-kwan, who is also hearing impaired and lacks sensitivity in her fingers, scored top marks in her exams despite having to study by lip-reading Braille. “I was not born with the spirit of Hong Kong. Rather, it is the result of the nurturing of my parents, my alma maters, my teachers …all their help and support has fostered my positive attitude and determination” she remarked in her exceptionally mature and poignant speech, “having gone through all the challenges all these years, I must keep up my efforts in order not to waste all the efforts of the people around me who have nurtured me wholeheartedly.”

Two senior gentlemen won the evening’s last two awards. Pastor Lee Mo Fan, an octogenarian who has spent over half a century providing shelter and care for elderly men who are abandoned by their families and forced to live rough, welcomed to his homes any elderly men that the audience witnessed needing help. Kan Yiu Kwong, erstwhile telephone repairman, visited a disaster struck Sichuan in 1994, only to find his help was not needed. However, he saw crumbling buildings and decided to assemble groups of friends to help him build schools in Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, some of the poorest, most inhospitable and remote regions, where he has to this day built over 1100 schools and 250 clinics.

The Spirit of Hong Kong initiative, sponsored by Sino Group, went further than the hundred-plus editorial stories published by the South China Morning Post. Net proceeds from its sponsorship also resulted in a charitable donation of HK$750,000 to three charities focused on the poorest in Hong Kong, SoCo, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and St James’ Settlement, selected as charity partners for SCMP’s Celebrating Hong Kong programme of activities.

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Full list of winners

Lee Ming-sun
Lamma ferry disaster hero
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1299350/heros-instincts-took-over-world-turned-upside-down

Chan Kit-ying
Director of services for Mothers’ Choice
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1295983/small-miracles-how-hundreds-babies-left-squalid-orphanage-found

Willy Law Wai-cheung
Disabled rights advocate
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1315463/independent-thinker-unfazed-his-disability

Kan Yiu-kwong
Grace Charity foundation builder of 1100 schools and 250 clinics in rural China.
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1325908/hongkongers-reach-out-across-border

Tsang Tsz-kwan
Top scoring blind, hearing and touch-impaired student
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1330982/blind-students-words-speak-grit-and-spirit

Elsa Tse Ngar-yee
Ex-addict who helps young female drug abusers
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1297597/angel-temple-street

Carmen Yau Ka-man
SMA sufferer dedicated to helping others
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1317518/carmen-yau-amazing-work-progress

Jenny Law Chun-heung
Beautician who has given free haircuts for 27 years for the sick and elderly
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1167045/hospital-hair-doctor-cuts-free-grantham-hospital

Pastor Lee Mo Fan
Sheltering homeless elderly men for over 50 years.
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1286480/homeless-man-86-finds-peaceful-place-call-home

Elana Ho Tsao Yuk-lan
Founder of Starfish Charitable Foundation, giving free cleft palate, heart disease and other operations to poor children in China.
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1333815/ordinary-mum-extraordinary-mission

Jill Robinson
Winner of People’s Choice Award
Bear bile trade activist and Dr Dog programme
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1327810/one-womans-battle-end-bear-bile-trade

References:
Website: www.celebratinghk.com/spirit

About SCMP Group Ltd

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s internationally recognised 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. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, analysis and opinion, multimedia articles and interactive forums. The South China Morning Post received 64 awards in 2012 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other titles in the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, ELLE Men, Esquire and CosmoGirl!, HK Magazine, The List, Where Hong Kong, and Where Chinese玩儿.

For further information please contact:

[email protected]

HONG KONG, Thursday 24 October, 2013 – The SCMP Group Ltd (SEHK: 583) announced today that it has secured the publishing license for the Hong Kong edition of The Peak magazine from SPH Magazines, the Singapore based publishing group also responsible for The Peak in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

The deal, which was finalised late yesterday, brings a leading English language luxury lifestyle publication to the SCMP Group, complementing an existing strong portfolio of products that cater to luxury advertisers and consumers. The move follows this month’s earlier announcement that SCMP Group will publish Esquire, and is part of the continued expansion into the magazine market, where SCMP Group already dominates the women’s category. The Peak will mark the third men’s title under the Group, which also publishes ELLE Men.

The Peak magazine has been established in the region for over 20 years and was first published by SPH in Hong Kong in 2004. The well-regarded title specialises in a world of exclusivity and prestige, with a closed circulation targeting highly affluent professionals and social elite. It is predominantly read by senior level businessmen, who travel frequently and earn an annual salary in excess of US$400,000.

Hong Kong’s edition of The Peak magazine will be published under newly formed SCMP Group subsidiary, PEAK HK Publishing Limited, under the leadership of Josephine Chan, Managing Director of SCMP Magazines Limited, who also heads up the Group’s other glossy magazine titles ELLE, ELLE Men, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, CosmoGirl! and Harpers’ Bazaar.

Ms Chan remarked “The Peak will add an additional boost to our luxury lifestyle portfolio for the English language market. We see incredible potential to grow the title, by combining our expertise in premium magazine publishing and distribution, our English editorial expertise and our knowledge and connections with luxury advertisers and senior business leaders.”

The SCMP Group will target their first edition early in 2014, with a strengthened editorial, design and distribution strategy.

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About SCMP Group Ltd

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s internationally recognised 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. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, analysis and opinion, multimedia articles and interactive forums. The South China Morning Post received 64 awards in 2012 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other titles in the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, ELLE Men, Esquire and CosmoGirl!, HK Magazine, The List, Where Hong Kong, and Where Chinese玩儿.



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