AOL Hong Kong Launches.

HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 27, 1999--

Service Brings a Whole New Internet Online Experience to Hong Kong:

Connecting Hong Kong to AOL's Global Community of More

Than 18 Million Members

AOL Hong Kong Combines Bilingual Content With

Global Community, Ease-of-Use, World Class Customer Service

and Cutting-Edge Products

America Online, Inc., the world leader in branded interactive services and content, today joined with China.com Corporation, the leading pan-Asian integrated Internet service company, and its affiliate China Internet Corporation (CIC), to launch AOL Hong Kong, the newest member of the AOL global community.

Combining AOL's hallmark ease-of-use and convenience with unique and exclusive local content, AOL Hong Kong provides a whole new Internet online experience to Hong Kong consumers.

The service offers Hong Kong consumers all the benefits of the Internet along with communications tools such as e-mail, Instant Messenger (TM) and Buddy List (TM) features, message boards and built-in chat, that are now enjoyed by more than 18 million AOL members across services in 14 countries and six languages.

AOL Hong Kong will provide an unrivaled interactive experience with first-class content and community, personalization features and easy navigation. As Hong Kong's only full-service online provider, AOL Hong Kong will offer the easiest, most convenient and enjoyable online experience available with unique local content, features and services and state-of-the-art communications tools in addition to simplified access to the Internet.

AOL Hong Kong is bringing the best of the Net directly to its members' fingertips through the first truly seamless, easy-to-use Internet online service for Hong Kong consumers.

Designed and developed by a Hong Kong team, AOL Hong Kong has been built to meet the interests and needs of its members, with local customer service, billing and management, as well as significant content and features in both Chinese and English.

Steve Case, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of America Online, Inc., said: "Our goal in Hong Kong - as around the world - is to help make the interactive medium a central and valuable part of people's lives. AOL Hong Kong offers the Internet and much more: local Chinese content, powerful global content and community, and simplified access to the Internet. At the same time, AOL is delighted to join with our partners, China Internet Corporation and China.com Corporation, in helping fuel Hong Kong's development as a key Internet hub in Asia."

Judy Lau, Managing Director of the AOL Hong Kong service, said: "This is an exciting day for Hong Kong and the Chinese community internationally. The AOL Hong Kong service is the first Chinese language AOL service, providing the first presence for the people of Hong Kong in the 18 million member AOL global community."

Ms. Lau continued: "AOL Hong Kong is especially tailored to the hectic lifestyle of Hong Kong people because it helps simplify, manage and organize their interactive experience by seamlessly integrating the Web with AOL's unique and powerful content and features. At the same time, as more and more Hong Kong consumers look to get connected to the Net, we will meet the resulting demand for e-commerce with world-class merchants partners and shopping tools."

Jack Davies, President of AOL International, said: "It has been very thrilling to see the AOL global community grow as consumers worldwide have helped us become a market leader wherever we offer our service. Hong Kong, with its combination of high penetration of home computers, rapid growth in Internet usage and tradition of quickly adopting new technology, is a very attractive market for AOL. We are committed to helping advance the interactive medium here and across the Asia/Pacific region."

Peter Yip, Chief Executive Officer, China.com Corporation, said: "We are particularly pleased to be partnering with AOL since we both strive to embrace local culture, language and interests in the content and services that we provide. Hong Kong has always been about an unparalleled blend of 'global' and 'local' - it is one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities. Our partnership will be instrumental in furthering Hong Kong's competitiveness as we move into a rapidly maturing Internet and e-commerce- based society."

AOL Links Hong Kong to a Global Community

The AOL Hong Kong service, the first Chinese language AOL service, will allow Hong Kong users to join the AOL global community of more than 18 million members across its services.

Featuring Hong Kong's unique culture, the service will be popular in ethnic Chinese communities worldwide. In addition, distinctively Chinese content such as Fung Shui, Chinese cuisine and recipes, Cantonese pop entertainment, horse-racing forums by famous Hong Kong commentators, and Hong Kong stock market updates will appeal to Chinese culture enthusiasts worldwide.

The AOL Hong Kong service will also become an affordable and convenient link between AOL Hong Kong members and their friends and relatives around the world who have access to AOL. With AOL's signature ease-of-use, even grandparents will be able to use its advanced communications features to stay in touch with their children and grandchildren.

The launch of the AOL Hong Kong service marks the introduction of a second AOL brand in the region. ICQ, AOL, Inc.'s young, hip Web brand, already has approximately one million registered users in Hong Kong and enjoys unparalleled popularity worldwide and with Hong Kong Internet users.

ICQ -- "I seek you" -- is the world's largest online communications community with over 42 million registered users worldwide, and the ICQ communications portal is built around the ability to seek and communicate with friends, family and colleagues online.

Strong Content Partnerships Ensure Compelling Online Experience

AOL is also the global leader in interactive content. With partners including the world's best-known media brands, AOL makes the highest-quality news, information, sports, finance and entertainment available to members worldwide in a user-friendly, easy-to-access format. AOL's cutting-edge content and top Web sites are seamlessly integrated into the service.

AOL Hong Kong announced today a number of unique content partnerships ensuring that the service offers the most locally relevant online experience.

Initial content partners on the service at launch will include Star East Multimedia, Sing Tao, Celestial Asia Securities Holdings, Ltd., TD Water House, Finet, Star TV, Breakthrough, the Hong Kong Tourist Association, the Hong Kong Economic Journal, Modern Bookstore, PC Weekly, Art Centre and Wisers News.

In addition, "home grown" content areas will feature Chinese content developed locally for AOL Hong Kong members. At launch, these will include the Lazy Susan cooking area where users can swap recipes and chat; the Chinese Mystic providing users insight through the ancient science of I Ching; the Japan Channel with all that's cool and Asian; the Headspin area with music and fashion; and an Expat area with useful tips for Hong Kong's large expatriate community on making the most of life in Hong Kong - with much more to come.

To nurture the development of unique local Chinese content for Hong Kong users, AOL Hong Kong has developed an advisory board comprised of local experts in the arts, cultural and entertainment fields, including: Mr. Danny Yung, Artistic Director of the Centre of the Arts, Hong Kong University of Science and Technologies, and Artistic Director of Zuni Icosahedron; Mr. Willy Tso, Artistic Director, City Contemporary Dance Company; Mr. Yu Kwok Lit, Louis, Programme Director, Hong Kong Art Centre; Ms. Lam Joy-shan, Managing Director, Hong Kong Economic Journal; and, Dr. Ho Sik-ying, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong.

Members to Benefit from an Array of Features

AOL members have access to an unparalleled array of features at no extra cost, adding up to the best value in cyberspace:

-- Comprehensive E-mail Capabilities: AOL makes it easy for members

to customize and personalize their e-mail with: English spelling

check; expressive fonts and colors; the ability to attach

multiple files to an e-mail; a versatile address book that

alphabetizes automatically and include entries for personal data;

and the ability to insert favorite pictures and Favorite Places

links directly into an e-mail message.

-- Unrivaled Community: AOL's People Connection is the gateway to

community on AOL, offering thousands of chat rooms bringing

people with similar interests together from around the world;

members can also create their own chats with friends, family or

colleagues through AOL's Buddy Chat (TM) feature; AOL's thousands

of message boards are yet another way members can communicate

with each other on areas of shared interest; and the AOL member

directory provides a quick way to find friends online.

-- Personalization Features: AOL Hong Kong members will be able to

tailor their online greetings using the voices of famous

Cantonese pop superstars such as Alan Tam, Nat Chan, Tsang

Chi-wai and Jackie Chan, through a partnership with Star East

Multimedia Ltd. This will make the members' online experience

even more fun and personalized.

-- Instant Worldwide Communication: A pioneering innovation that's

faster and more direct than e-mail, AOL's Buddy List Network

enables real-time, one-on-one communication between more than 45

million users including AOL members and their friends on the

Internet via instant messages. AOL's Buddy List (TM) feature lets

members know when their friends, family and business colleagues

are also online for instant messaging.

-- Simple Navigation within AOL and on the Web: A simplified and

integrated tool bar increases productivity by offering members

seamless movement between AOL and the Web - in turn leading to

faster access to online and Internet areas. Members only have to

enter an address, whether on AOL or on the Internet, and the new

toolbar will transport them directly to the site. In addition,

with AOL's thousands of keywords, members can easily find what

they are looking for within the AOL service.

-- Easy, Reliable Access: AOL members can access the service

reliably in 1,500 cities and more than 100 countries worldwide --

taking their AOL Hong Kong service with them regardless of where

they travel.

-- A Customized, Secure Internet Experience: AOL provides members

with the technology and tools for a safe and secure Internet

experience including, "Mail Controls," which give members the

ability to decide specifically who they receive e-mail from; the

"Notify AOL" feature, which allows members to easily contact AOL

for help; the "Download Sentry Alert" which reminds members not

to download files attached to e-mail sent from strangers; and

AOL's Integrated Web Security Browser, which provides one of the

most secure online shopping experiences available in cyberspace.

-- Multiple Screen Names: The availability of five "screen names" or

e-mail accounts per membership -- at no additional charge --

means that the whole family can share in the AOL experience.

-- Parental Controls: To help parents ensure that their child's

interactive time is fun, productive and safe, AOL Hong Kong

offers members "parental controls," which enable parents to

tailor the online experience to their child's age and maturity.

AOL Software Available through Brand-Name Partners

The AOL Hong Kong service makes it easy for Hong Kong consumers to sign up for membership. Users need only pick up a free disk at one of the 150 retail stores of Broadway, Manning Personal Stores, Software Collection & Notebook Collection, or call AOL Hong Kong's 24-hour hotline [phone] anytime. AOL client software is also bundled with IBM and Acer computers.

About America Online, Inc.

Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies, and e-commerce services.

America Online, Inc. operates: two worldwide Internet services, America Online, with more than 18 million members, and CompuServe, with approximately 2 million members; several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Digital City, Inc.; the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals; the Netscape Navigator and Communicator browsers; AOL MovieFone, the nation's # 1 movie listing guide and ticketing service; and Spinner Networks and NullSoft, Inc., leaders in Internet music.

Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the Company develops and offers easy-to-deploy, end-to-end e-commerce and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net Economy.

About AOL International

AOL International, headed by Jack Davies, manages all of AOL's and CompuServe's international services and is responsible for extending the AOL experience around the globe and building AOL's global community through the development of strong partnerships in key world markets.

AOL International, with its two Internet online brands, currently serves a combined total of over 3 million members outside the United States. AOL International also offers CompuServe branded services in Europe and Canada and has an extensive affiliate network serving members worldwide.

About China.com Corporation

China.com Corporation (NASDAQ:CHINA) is a comprehensive, pan-Asian, integrated Internet business providing a full range of solutions that build, distribute and sell Internet services in Asia.

China.com Corporation has a strong and innovative Internet-based business strategy which covers the full range of Internet services with its portal network (hongkong.com, china.com, cww.com and taiwan.com), e-business solutions company (The Web Connection) and Internet advertising network (24/7 Media Asia).

Today, China.com Corporation is committed to facilitating the development of the Internet in Asia, and has over 430 employees in twelve offices across seven Asian countries.

About China Internet Corporation

China Internet Corporation (CIC) has been a pioneer in the development of the Internet industry in China. CIC is committed to foster understanding the impact of the Internet on society and culture, and has founded the China Internet Research Foundation.

The CIRF is researching Internet development around the world in order to recommend ways in which the Internet can facilitate development of education, culture and the use of the Chinese language.