Shanghai, 7th December, 2017-The 2017 Firefly Charity Night organised by the Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation - BEA Charity Fund (the “BEA Charity Fund”) concluded in great success today at the Okura Garden Hotel in Shanghai. Testament to the staunch support for the BEA Charity Fund of a broad section of society, including famous Hong Kong actress Michelle Yim (Mai Suet) and charity-conscious entrepreneurs and individuals who came together in support of children’s education in rural areas. This is the ninth year that the Firefly Charity Night has been held. This year’s event raised funds of RMB 11.06 million. As of the time of writing, the BEA Charity Fund has raised RMB 73.81 million in total.

Mr. Cartier Lam Chi-man, Executive Director & Chief Executive of BEA China, noted that “For eight years, the BEA Charity Fund has been endeavouring to improve youth education in rural areas. The footprints of our Firefly Project can be found all over the country. At the same time, we have consistently committed to exploring new charity models. We will expand and deepen educational care for underprivileged children via projects such as the NGO Show and long-term teaching programmes. We hold a firm conviction that charity can make a difference; we have strong support from across society; and over the years we have become experts via learning by doing. In future, we will continue to move forward on the CSR road to provide help to more people in need.”

The evening began with a heart-warming chorus by young performers from Shanghai’s Children’s Palace. Volunteer representatives from the 2017 “NGO Show • One-Year Teaching Programme” were invited to share their experiences and insights gained from teaching in rural areas with the assembled guests. Michelle Yim, the love ambassador for the night, presented trophies to the platinum charity entrepreneurs for their devotion to charity. Many exquisite items for the charity auction of the night including gold bullion, art treasures, painting and calligraphy by famous artists, fashionable handbags, luxury toy cars as well as a BEA China credit card with lucky numbers, caught the attention of guests, who participated with great enthusiasm, and ensured the fundraising was a great success. The charity event also featured interesting immersive interactive games: outside the main venue, guests could put on VR glasses and “walk in” to rural schools and Firefly Centers, and pack "Firefly 60 Backpacks" for underprivileged children.

As the first charity fund established by a foreign bank in Mainland China in 2009, the BEA Charity Fund has long been committed to improving youth education in rural areas. All funds raised will go towards three main programmes of the Charity Fund - the Firefly Project, the BEA University Scholarship Programme and the Funding Plan for Non-governmental Organisations.

About BEA China

Headquartered in Shanghai, The Bank of East Asia (China) Limited ("BEA China") was one of the first foreign banks to receive approval from the China Banking Regulatory Commission to establish a locally-incorporated bank in Mainland China. Leveraging its deep insights into the China market as well as BEA (HK) Head Office's banking expertise in Hong Kong and overseas, BEA China offers a wide range of banking and financial services to customers. BEA China operates one of the largest networks of any foreign bank in Mainland China.

 

About The Bank of East Asia, Limited

Incorporated in Hong Kong in 1918, The Bank of East Asia, Limited ("BEA") is Hong Kong's largest independent local bank, with total consolidated assets of HK$788.5 billion (US$101.0 billion) as of 30th June, 2017. Listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Ltd, the Bank is one of the constituent stocks of the Hang Seng Index. BEA Group operates an extensive service network, with over 200 outlets covering Hong Kong, other parts of the Greater China region, South East Asia, Britain and America. BEA is dedicated to providing comprehensive corporate banking, personal banking, wealth management, and investment services to customers. For details of our services, please visit any BEA branch or our websitewww.hkbea.com.

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