(31 March 2016 – Hong Kong) New World Department Store China Limited (“NWDS” or the “Company”; Hong Kong stock code: 825), one of the largest owners and operators of department stores in Mainland China, participated in the “Earth Hour” lights-off campaign for the seventh consecutive year. 41 NWDS stores across the country turned off non-essential lights for an hour from 8:30pm on 19 March, while 4 stores among them held the “Unplugged Concerts” which delivered a lively scene well surrounded by around 500 audiences. In addition, NWDS held a retweeting activity called “NWDS・Second Unplugged Concerts” on NWDS CSR Weibo and managed to attract nearly 20,000 fans to help promote green messages online.

This year, as many as 41 NWDS stores across the country took part in the lights-off campaign. Among them, Beijing New World Liying Department Store, Hong Kong New World Department Store – Shanghai Shaanxi Road Branch Store, Changsha New World Trendy Plaza and Xi’an New World Department Store held the “Unplugged Concerts” in cooperation with local bands and arts organizations and staged singing and instrument performances which successfully drew around 500 audiences on site. The performances were carried out with live singing and unplugged instrument playing with the aim to spread green messages through the power of music. In addition to musical performances, stores exerted their creativity by incorporating programs such as interactive games, creating the “Earth Hour” sign with burning candles as well as audiences’ green tips sharing into the concert, to fully interact with the audiences.

Concurrently, the Company held the “NWDS・Second Unplugged Concerts” retweeting activity on NWDS CSR Weibo. The activity received enthusiastic response with nearly 20,000 fans retweeting the related weibo feed to let more online users to be aware of the “Earth Hour” lights-off campaign.

Founded by the World Wide Fund for Nature in 2007, the “Earth Hour” lights-off campaign encourages organizations and the public to reduce energy consumption and create a sustainable future collectively by turning off non-essential lights for one hour. In response to the hazardous haze, the theme for this year’s lights-off campaign in China is “Consume Less, Enjoy More”, which encourages the public to take actions such as reducing the use of coal and other fossil fuels to improve air quality.

Ms. Violet Chan, Assistant General Manager of Corporate Affairs and Chairman of Sustainability Steering Committee of NWDS, said, “With the worsening environmental issues, we greatly agree with the environmental philosophy of the “Earth Hour” lights-off campaign and therefore, advocate the energy saving message to communities in every means we are capable of. The positive feedbacks from customers and netizens have been the greatest encouragement for us and prompt us to continue to encourage our stores and offices to practice green and organize a variety of green activities, in order to minimize the possible impacts on the environment caused by business operations and foster sustainability development in society.”

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