Immediate Release
November 12, 2011
Press Release
Celebrating Wharf’s 125th Anniversary
Joy to the World Christmas Party and HarbourCity Lighting Ceremony with '125 VIPs'
(November 12, 2011, Hong Kong) In celebration of Wharf’s 125th Anniversary, 125 children were invited to an exclusive Christmas party and lighting ceremony at HarbourCity today, making them among the first to be sublimed in the festive atmosphere.
Joining hands with St. James’ Settlement via its “Grant-in-aid” Brightens Children’s Lives Charity Project, 125 children of humble backgrounds from five primary schools, including Hong Kong Student Aid Society Primary School in Tin Shui Wai, Yan Tak Catholic Primary School in Tuen Mun, Lam Tsuen Public Wong Fook Luen Memorial School in Tai Po, H.K.T.A., The Yuen Yuen Institute Shek Wai Kok Primary School in Tsuen Wan and SKH Kei Tak Primary School in Wong Tai Sin, were invited to join an exclusive and tailor-made Christmas celebration with the spectacular German band show and delicacies.
The event is divided into two parts with the focus being the Christmas lighting ceremony hosted by Ms Doreen Lee Yuk-fong, Executive Director of The Wharf (Holdings) Limited, Mrs Cynthia Luk Ho Kam-wan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of St. James’ Settlement, the special guest Woody from Toy Story, as well as our 125 little guests to “officiate” a miraculous and warm Christmas this year.
Ms Doreen Lee Yuk-fong, Executive Director of The Wharf (Holdings) Limited said, “Since its establishment in 1886, Wharf is celebrating its 125th anniversary of its founding on 15th November this year, with Harbour City as its origin. The event today has dual meaning - we wish that while we are celebrating this important occasion, we can also bring joy to a wider group of audience in the community to express our heartfelt care for the society. With the full support from St. James’ Settlement, schools and Disneyland, an innovative and memorable Christmas has been unfolded to our little guests.”
Mrs Cynthia Luk Ho Kam-wan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of St. James’ Settlementsaid, “‘Grant-in-aid’ Brightens Children’s Lives Charity Project by St. James’ Settlement has been in partnerships with different corporates to help children of humble backgroundswith an aim of fostering their growth and learning as well as eliminating or minimizingpersistence of poverty by generations in the long run. Our work relies much on the support from corporates, and we hope that the business community will join force as we continue to help the children in need, offering them different learning opportunities and thusgrooming our future leaders for a better Hong Kong.”
Apart from the Christmas lighting ceremony, a number of spectacular programmes have been arranged for our guests, including the party on the rooftop car park at Ocean Terminal before the lighting ceremony. At the backdrop of the magnificent VictoriaHarbour view, the German band from Munich gave a fascinating performance of theirtraditional folk music and held an interactive session with our little guests with thepeculiar Trombone and German dance. Adding up to the signature German cuisine andcross-culture interactions, it was surely an eye-opening experience for all.
Wharf has been deeply involved in different kinds of community services. Under the newWharf’s “Business-in-Community” banner, the Group will continue its partnership with different charity bodies to give hands to the needy in the society. In May 2011, the Group has launched a six-year programme, Project WeCan with a funding of HK$150 million.The Group and its nine business units and fellow businesses, with support from more than 400 staff volunteers, connect with each of the 10 participating secondary schools which are with fewer opportunities yet great potential respectively, benefiting more than 10,000 students.
About The Wharf (Holdings) Limited
Founded in 1886, The Wharf (Holdings) Limited is a listed subsidiary of Wheelock and Company Limited. With prime real estate as Wharf’s primary strategic focus, site acquisition, financing, development planning, design, construction and marketing are its core competencies. Mall management remains its strategic differentiation. LandmarksHarbourCity and Times Square form the backbone of its prime real estate in Hong Kong. Wharf’s strategic initiative of Building for Tomorrow in China pre-occupies the Group’s asset expansion program with its medium-term target of increasing its Mainland assets to 50% including a land bank of at least 15 million square metres. The Group now owns or manages 10 hotels in Asia Pacific. From 2012 onwards, a number of new Marco Polo Hotels will be added to the current portfolio. Also contributing to Wharf’s presence in the Mainland are key port assets along the China coast, the most dynamic coast line in the world for cargo movement in the coming decades.
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