| Hong Kong, December 3, 2010 – Hong Kong’s impressive business community turned out in full force for last night’s Hong Kong Business Awards, presented by DHL/South China Morning Post at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. The event, now in its 21st year, honoured Li Ka-shing, Chairman of Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited and Hutchison Whampoa Ltd, with the Lifetime Achievement Award. This award, which is not given out every year, has only previously been given out twice before since the award’s inception, to Dr Chiang Chen, GBM, OBE, Chairman and Founder of Chen Hsong Holdings Limited in 2005, and Dr Hari Harilela, GBS, OBE, JP, Chairman and Founder of the Harilela Group in 2008. Victor Li, son of Li Ka-shing, accepted the award in his honour. Li Ka-shing was in fact the first winner of the Businessman of the Year award in 1990, and his son Richard Li won the same award in 1999. Chairman of Swire Pacific, Christopher Pratt, was this year’s winner of the coveted Business Person of the Year Award, for leading the group’s strong growth to a profit of HK$13.95bn this year, HK$10.72bn higher than the same period last year. Pratt oversees the group’s diverse businesses, which include property, aviation, beverages, marine services, trading and industry, and chairs Cathay Pacific Airways. Cathay Pacific’s own Chief Executive, Tony Tyler took home the Executive Award, for steering the company through the turbulent economic conditions of 2008 to a turnaround success in 2010, announcing the best ever half year result of HK$6.8bn in August and cementing plans for fleet expansion. Winning the Owner-Operator Award was music to the ears of Klaus Heymann, Chairman of Naxos Rights International Ltd. Today the Naxos group of companies is the biggest classical group in the world, and from its small beginnings in Hong Kong in 1987, has developed a reputation for the highest quality original digital recordings and state-of-the-art mixed media products for classic music lovers. Humble Hong Kong beginnings also reflect the story behind winner of the Enterprise Award, Neil Pryde, Managing Director of Neil Pryde Ltd. The Australian sailmaker arrived in Hong Kong in 1963 and sailed for the Hong Kong team at the 1968 Olympic before setting up his sail manufacturing company here two years later. Now with over 3000 employees spanning 40 countries, Neil Pryde Ltd is one of the world’s biggest marine and adventure sports companies. Another notable exporter, Mr Henry Tan, CEO of Luen Thai Holdings, won the International Award. Luen Thai’s garment export business encompasses partnerships with global brands Ralph Lauren, Esprit and adidas, and exports to Europe and the US from manufacturing plants in China, Indonesia and the Philippines. The winner of the Young Entrepreneur Award, Edwin Lee, Founder and CEO of Hong Kong Business Intermediary Co Ltd, delighted audiences with his energy and humour. Harking back to the number of failed attempts he had previously made in business, Lee was clearly ebullient about the success of HKBI, which specializes in brokering business sales and shaping companies to attract potential buyers. HKBI has grown from a one man operation in 1991 to being the largest business brokerage in the city, with over 100 employees. Mr Kong Qingping, Chairman of China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd, won the China Company Award, after his company posted a 98 percent increase in turnover in 2009 to reach a figure of HK$37.3bn. Andrew Pang, Director of HKCOLO Ltd won the SME Award. HKCOLO Ltd is the first and largest carrier neutral provider of co-location services in Hong Kong and the Greater China region, connecting more than 300 carriers in the telecom industry. About DHL/SCMP Hong Kong Business Awards The Hong Kong Business Awards were established by DHL and the South China Morning Post in 1990 to acknowledge publicly the vital contributions made by individuals and by companies in maintaining and expanding the economic viability and international stature of Hong Kong; and to encourage and sustain the Hong Kong entrepreneurial spirit and highlight and recognize excellent standards of corporate management. There are four categories for individuals, namely, Business Person of the Year Award, Executive Award, Owner-Operator Award and Young Entrepreneur Award; and four for companies, namely, International Award and China Company Award, Enterprise Award and SME Award. Nominations are made by individuals or by public or private organizations. Nominees who meet the criteria for the respective categories will be invited to participate. Those who accept the nominations will submit supporting documents for the judging panel, who will vote for a winner for each category. Over the past nineteen years, the DHL/SCMP Hong Kong Business Awards has successfully established its status as one of the most prestigious and authoritative business awards in Hong Kong. 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 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 60 awards in 2010 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability, a major achievement for any news media within the region. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines. About DHL DHL is the global market leader in the logistics industry and "The Logistics company for the world". DHL commits its expertise in international express, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation, contract logistics and international mail services to its customers. A global network composed of more than 220 countries and territories and about 300,000 employees worldwide offers customers superior service quality and local knowledge to satisfy their supply chain requirements. DHL accepts its social responsibility by supporting climate protection, disaster management and education. DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL. The Group generated revenue of more than 46 billion euros in 2009. |
| For further information please contact: Anne Wong Director of Marketing Tel: (852) 2680 8121 Email: communications@scmp.com |