Today WWF simultaneously launched the new Ocean's 10 website, and the Bus Design Competition to further raise public awareness of the diversity of Hong Kong's marine life and habitat. The general public and school children are invited to showcase their creativity by designing an "Ocean's 10" bus based on the selected marine species of the programme. Solomon Systech Limited is the major sponsor.

WWF launched "Ocean's 10" last June to provide interactive education programmes based on ten selected marine species that live in Hong Kong waters. This 3-year education programme has been designed to enhance public understanding of Hong Kong's marine conservation issues, such as environmental degradation, unsustainable harvesting and pollution, by running a series of interactive education programmes on selected species.

The first project is the "Ocean's 10" Theatre & Visual Arts Project for Hong Kong school children, co-presented by WWF and Hong Kong Youth Arts Festival (HKYAF), and supported by Morgan Stanley. The project has toured 100 local schools, involving close to 5,000 students and reaching out to the community with an estimated impact on 70,000 people. The programme has been well received by the school and corporate communities.

"We are pleased that Ocean's 10 has received very good response from both education and corporate communities. With the support of Solomon Systech, we will further enhance our capacity to spread important marine conservation messages to the general public. The future of Hong Kong's marine environment depends on how we handle our natural habitats and resources today. We have an obligation to protect these marine habitats and treasures to leave our children a living planet," said Eric Bohm, CEO, WWF Hong Kong.

"WWF is also excited to have Mr Alex Fong join hands with WWF to protect our marine resources. Mr Fong will become our "Ocean's 10" Ambassador and has pledged to help spread the vital marine conservation message to the general public. With Alex's active participation, I'm sure that we can further enhance public understanding on the need of protecting our marine environment and resources," continued Mr Bohm.

The bus design competition is open to primary, secondary and public groups. The theme of the competition is "Ocean's 10 and Marine Conservation" which the participants are suggested to use the elements of Ocean's 10, underwater wildlife of Hong Kong, marine habitats and marine conservation in designing the "Ocean's 10" bus.

The judging panel will select the winning design based on the theme-matching ability (30%), creativity (30%), artistic quality (20%) and ability to convey marine conservation message (20%). Deadline for entries submission is 7 April 2006. Winning designs will be displayed on the bus body to further promote the marine conservation message to the general public.

The selected marine species of the "Ocean's 10" programme are the Brain coral, Chinese bahaba , Chinese white dolphin, Green turtle, Hong Kong grouper, Horseshoe crab, Mudskipper, Sea grass, Purple sea urchin and Yellow croaker. Information of the Ocean's 10 species and their threats can be found on our newly launched Ocean's 10 website at www.wwf.org.hk/oceans10.

In this website, each of the lively Ocean's 10 will narrate its own unique story about the biology, fun facts, threats and conservation status. Public can also find ways to help these species and our marine environment by checking the section of "How can you help?"

Special thanks to Education Manpower Bureau of Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, Citybus, Olympian City and TBWA Hong Kong for their support to the competition.

WWF was established in 1961. WWF's ultimate goal is to stop and eventually reverse environmental degradation and to build a future where people live in harmony with nature, by:

• conserving the world's biological diversity
• ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
• promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF has been working in Hong Kong since 1981 to ensure a better environment for the present and future generations through implementing a wide range of focused conservation and environmental education programs in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

– End –