| Hong Kong, 15 October 2008, China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited ("China Unicom" or the "Company"; formerly known as China Unicom Limited) today announced that its merger with China Netcom Group Corporation (Hong Kong) Limited ("China Netcom") has became effective. The Company also announced the new Board of Directors of China Unicom (the "Board"), which is committed to creating a leading fully integrated telecommunications service provider in China.
Mr. Chang Xiaobing, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of China Unicom, will continue to be the Chairman and CEO of the merged group. Mr. Lu Yimin and Mr. Zuo Xunsheng were appointed as Executive Directors of the Company. In view of the respective shareholding interests of SK Telecom Co., Ltd and Telefonica Internacional, S.A.U. in the Company of approximately 3.79% and 4.21%, the Board has invited Mr. Kim Shin Bae, the representative of SK Telecom Co., Ltd, and Mr. Cesareo Alierta Izuel, the representative of Telefonica Internacional, S.A.U., to join the Board as Non-Executive Directors of the Company. In addition, Mr. John Lawson Thornton and Mr. Timpson Chung Shui Ming have been appointed as Independent Non-Executive Directors of the Company. The above director appointments took effect on 15 October 2008.
The new Board of Directors now comprises:
Executive Directors: Chang Xiaobing, Lu Yimin, Zuo Xunsheng and Tong Jilu
Non-Executive Directors: Cesareo Alierta Izuel and Kim Shin Bae
Independent Non-Executive Directors: Wu Jinglian, Cheung Wing Lam, Linus, Wong Wai Ming, John Lawson Thornton and Timpson Chung Shui Ming
China Netcom is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Unicom and the withdrawal of the listing of the Netcom Shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange became effective at 9:30am on 15 October 2008 (Hong Kong time). The withdrawal of the listing of the Netcom ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange is expected to take effect from 9:30am on 15 October 2008 (New York time).
In addition, the change of the Company's name from "China Unicom Limited 中國聯通股份有限公司" to "China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited 中國聯合網絡通信(香港)股份有限公司" took effect on 15 October 2008. The stock will continue to trade under the same stock trading name and ticker.
Mr. Chang Xiaobing, the Chairman and CEO of China Unicom, said: "We are delighted to announce the successful completion of the merger between China Unicom and China Netcom. The combined company has a strong market position and a clear development strategy which will enable us to go from strength to strength. Going forward, to capture the huge market potential of the telecommunications industry in China brought by broadband communications and the 3G business, we will strive to achieve rapid integration and fully realize the synergies of combining the strengths of the two companies in order to deliver better returns for shareholders." | 
