2004 News Releases

Hong Kong— Two senior insurance agents who have each clocked up an incredible 50 years’ service with Manulife were feted at a celebration dinner last night. The entire top-management team of Manulife Hong Kong turned out to congratulate the pair, along with fellow-agents and other staff and friends, as well as long-time customers.

The long-serving senior agents, Joe Sun and Harold Oh, were presented with solid-gold mementoes in the form of a crane perched in a pine tree, to symbolise long life, as well as with special celebration booklets that looked back in words and pictures on their illustrious careers.

“Manulife is proud to have such dedicated agents as Joe Sun and Harold Oh — their loyalty and passion for customer service have helped make Manulife a trusted household name across the region over the years,” said Vic Apps, Senior Executive Vice President and General Manager for Asia, Manulife Financial. “Without doubt, we can point to people like Joe and Harold as the foundations of the considerable success we have enjoyed.”

The achievements of the legendary pair over that extraordinary 50-year time-span have set perfect examples for fellow agents and newcomers to the company as well as the industry as a whole. They are both still going strong and take great satisfaction in delivering top-notch customer service every day.

“We are delighted to see that Manulife is able to attract and retain some very remarkable people, such as Joe Sun and Harold Oh,” said Michael Huddart, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Hong Kong, Manulife (International) Limited. “The quality of our employees is probably the greatest strength of Manulife. A successful company is only as good as its people, and we are proud to say that Joe Sun and Harold Oh are both among of our very best.”

Joe Sun, an economics graduate from Shanghai’s renowned Soochow University, came to Hong Kong in 1951 and joined the firm some three years later — one of only seven out of 400 applicants to be chosen. He has been a frequent sales conference-qualifier and has received numerous awards for his exceptional achievements over the past half-century.

Harold Oh first joined Manulife in Singapore at the age of 20 in 1955. In 1962, he moved to Hong Kong where his talents have been consistently recognised over the years. His hard work and persistency have not only earned him multiple top-sales accolades, but also a place on the international Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Honor Roll and Life Membership.

Remarkably, the pair have no immediate plans to retire, claiming that so long as they feel fit enough to carry on working, they are happy to do so. After 50 years, they say, they would miss the sense of satisfaction their jobs give them, the companionship of their colleagues and the esteem in which their customers hold them.

About Manulife (International) Limited
Manulife (International) Limited is a member of the Manulife Financial group of companies. Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily through John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$346 billion (approximately HK$2,138 billion) as at September 30, 2004.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '0945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

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For more information, please contact:
Helena Lee / Jeanie Ho
Manulife (International) Limited
Tel: 2202 1050 / 2510 3191
Fax: 2234 6875
Email: helena_lee@manulife.com
jeanie_ho@manulife.com