09:39 NEW CENTURY GP<00234> - Announcement The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited takes no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, makes no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement. NEW CENTURY GROUP HONG KONG LIMITED (Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability) (Stock Code: 234) EXTENSION OF LONG STOP DATE AND FURTHER DELAY IN DESPATCH OF CIRCULAR The long stop date for the Agreement in relation to the acquisition of a further 20% beneficial interest in two cruise liners namely "Leisure World" and "Amusement World" has been extended from 31st January, 2005 to 28th February, 2005. The Company has applied to the Stock Exchange for further extension of the deadline for despatch of the Circular in relation to a very substantial acquisition and connected transaction from 10th January, 2005 to 24th January, 2005. Reference is made to the announcement of Company dated 26th November, 2004 (the "Announcement") in relation to a very substantial acquisition and connected transaction regarding the acquisition of a further 20% beneficial interest in two cruise liners namely "Leisure World" and "Amusement World", and the announcement of the Company dated 17th December, 2004 regarding the delay in despatch of the Circular (the "Delay Announcement"). Unless otherwise stated, capitalised terms used herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Announcement and the Delay Announcement. EXTENSION OF LONG STOP DATE The Directors announce that the Vendor and the Purchaser have agreed to extend the long stop date for the Agreement from 31st January, 2005 to 28th February, 2005. FURTHER DELAY IN DESPATCH OF CIRCULAR Pursuant to Rule 14.38 and Rule 14A.49 of the Listing Rules, the Company is required to despatch the Circular to its Shareholders within 21 days after publication of the Announcement, which fell on or before 20th December, 2004. As announced in the Delay Announcement, the Company has applied for a waiver from strict compliance with Rule 14.38 and Rule 14A.49 of the Listing Rules with which the deadline for despatch of the Circular was extended from 20th December, 2004 to 10th January, 2005. In order to align the accounting policies of the NCML Group to be consistent with those of the Group, and given certain bank confirmations for the purpose of the accountants' report on NCML and the indebtedness statement of the enlarged Group remain outstanding as at the date hereof, additional time is required to finalise the accountants' report on NCML, pro forma financial information of the enlarged Group and other financial information to be included in the Circular. Accordingly, application has been made to the Stock Exchange for consent to further extend the deadline for despatch of the Circular to 24th January, 2005. On behalf of the Board Wilson Ng Chairman Hong Kong, 7th January, 2005 As at the date of this announcement, the Board comprises Mr. Wilson Ng (Chairman), Ms. Sio Ion Kuan (Deputy chairman), Mr. Ng Wee Keat (Chief executive officer), Ms. Ng Siew Lang, Linda (Chief operating officer), Ms. Lilian Ng, Mr. Lo Ming Chi, Charles, Ms. Chen Ka Chee and Mr. Yu Wai Man as executive Directors and Mr. Wong Kwok Tai, Mr. Kwan Kai Kin, Kenneth and Mr. Ho Yau Ming as independent non-executive Directors.