Netcom Has New Chairman

HONG KONG -- The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of China Netcom Group Corporation (Hong Kong) Limited (the "Company") announces that Mr. Zuo Xunsheng has been re-designated as the Chairman of the Company with effect from 25 May 2008. Mr. Zuo Xunsheng is currently an Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and he will continue to hold such positions after the re-designation.

Mr. Zuo Xunsheng, 57, has been serving as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since May 2006. Before that, Mr. Zuo Xunsheng has served as Chief Operating Officer of the Company from December 2005 to May 2006. Mr. Zuo has served as Senior Vice President since July 2004. He has served as Vice President of China Network Communications Group Corporation since April 2002. Mr. Zuo has also served as Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chairman of PCCW Limited (listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with its American Depositary Receipt trading on the Pink Sheets’ OTC Markets in the United States) since July 2007. Before joining China Network Communications Group Corporation, Mr. Zuo was President of the former Shandong Telecommunications Company from May 2000 to April 2002. From October 1997 to May 2000, Mr. Zuo has served as Director of the former Posts and Telecommunications Bureau of Shandong Province. From July 1993 to October 1997, Mr. Zuo has served as Director of the former Bureau of Telecommunications of Jinan City. Mr. Zuo graduated from Guanghua School of Management of Peking University with an EMBA degree in 2004.

The service contract of Mr. Zuo Xunsheng does not provide for a specified length of services and he will be subject to retirement by rotation and re-election at the annual general meetings of the Company at least every three years. Mr. Zuo Xunsheng is not entitled to any director’s fee. Mr. Zuo Xunsheng is entitled to an annual base salary of RMB 300,000 plus a discretionary bonus as may be determined by the Board. As at the date hereof, Mr. Zuo Xunsheng currently holds 455,500 share options in the Company. Save for such share options, Mr. Zuo Xunsheng does not have any interest in the Company’s shares within the meaning of Part XV of the Securities and Futures Ordinance.

In a separate relaese:

HONG KONG -- The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of China Netcom Group Corporation (Hong Kong) Limited (the "Company") announces that Mr. Zhang Chunjiang has resigned from his positions as Chairman and Executive Director of the Company, the Chairman of the Strategy Committee and a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board with effect from 23 May 2008. In addition, Mr. Zhang Xiaotie has also resigned from his positions as Executive Director and Senior Vice President of the Company, a member of the Compensation Committee and the Supervision Committee of the Board with effect from 23 May 2008.

The resignations of Mr. Zhang Chunjiang and Mr. Zhang Xjaotie are due to reassignment of work. Mr. Zhang Chunjiang and Mr. Zhang Xiaotie will take up senior management position with China Mobile Communications Corporation. Mr. Zhang Chunjiang and Mr. Zhang Xiaotie have both confirmed that there is no disagreement with the Board and that there is no matter relating to their resignations that needs to be brought to the attention of the shareholders of the Company. The Board takes this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of Mr. Zhang Chunjiang and Mr. Zhang Xiaotie to the Company with the highest regard and deepest gratitude.

China Netcom Corp. Ltd. (NYSE: CN; Hong Kong: 0906)