New World Development Company Limited ("NWD" or "the Group", Hong Kong stock code: 17) jointly established a new eco cycling tour "New World ECOASIS Series - Kam Pok Eco Tour" ("Kam Pok Eco Tour") with Tung Wah Group of Hospitals ("TWGHs") BiciLine Cycling Ecotourism Social Enterprise ("BiciLine") on 8 October 2011. The collaboration provides employment opportunities to low skilled low educated youth from low income family in Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai, enhancing the awareness of environmental protection and eco-tourism among the community.

The kick off ceremony was officiated by Ms Maisy Ho Chiu-Ha, Chairman of Community Services Committee cum 5th Vice-Chairman of TWGHs and Mr Gary Chen Guanzhan, General Manager of NWD, followed by an introduction of Kam Pok Eco Tour attractions by the tour guides of BiciLine.

This three-year collaboration aims at training and employing low skilled youths with limited working experience living in Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai to become the tour guides, encouraging them to possess positive attitudes towards life. Apart from discovering the undiscovered oasis in town and promoting local eco tours, we expect to create 100 employment opportunities and nurture a group of young people possessing aspiration for the betterment of the society.

During the kick off ceremony, Ms Maisy Ho Chiu-Ha, Chairman of Community Services Committee cum 5th Vice-Chairman of TWGHs said, "TWGHs is committed to focusing on inter-generational poverty and promoting environmental conservation. In 2008, we established Hong Kong's first cycling ecotourism social enterprise. Through training young eco tour guides and operating eco tours, we hope to create employment and talent development opportunities to youngsters, at the same time educate the public knowledge of conservation, echoing with TWGHs' goal in becoming a green organization."

Mr Gary Chen Guanzhan, General Manager of NWD said, "Committed to training up young people to become tour guides, BiciLine organizes local eco cycling tours to stimulate the economy and raise young people's commitment to the society and ecological conservation. This echoes with our mission ‘Care for the communities we serve and respect the environment we live in'. Our collaboration does not only enhance community's awareness to eco-tourism, but also generate the momentum necessary to build an energetic society, bring in direct and comprehensive social benefits."

Kam Pok Eco Tour is the first tourist route of "New World ECOASIS" eco cycling tour series. Under the guidance of BiciLine's tour guides, participants are able to tour around Kam Tin and Pok Wai by bicycle, knowing the history, culture and ecology at there. They will also be able to experience gardening, cooking, and bird-watching, admire the mangroves and wetland and gaze at rare birds by using spotting scopes.

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Ms. Maisy HO, Chairman of Community Services Committee cum 5th Vice-Chairman of TWGHs (Forth from right) and Mr Gary Chen Guanzhan, General Manager of NWD (Third from right), officiate the kick off ceremony of the new eco cycling tour “New World ECOASIS Series – Kam Pok Eco Tour” together with guests and BiciLine tour guides.

Tour guides of BiciLine introduce the ecology of Pok Wai to participants.

Tour guides of BiciLine teach participants cooking technique (Upper photo) and characteristics of tortoise (Lower photo) attentively.

Kam Pok Eco Tour is the first tourist route of “New World ECOASIS” eco cycling tour series. Participants are able to see water lily (Upper photo) and Egretta garzetta (Lower photo), admiring the beauty of nature during the tour.