Bangkok--21 Jun--HSBC HSBC in Thailand joins hands with British Embassy; Department of Environmental Quality Promotion; Office of The Basic Education Commission; Field Studies Council; and British Council to promote environmental conservation in schools through the debut of Schools Ecological Footprint Challenge 2007. The programme opens for applications from secondary school students around the nation. The applicants have to measure their current use of resources, plan and execute activities to reduce environmental impacts in schools. The programme is aimed to raise awareness and promote understanding of sustainable development among teachers and students. The qualified proposals will receive a development fund of up to THB50,000 per project. The deadline for application is 9 July 2007. For more information, please call 02-652-5480-9 ext.306. Media enquiries to Varanandha Sutthapreeda or Savittree Muadmuang on 0-2614-4606, 0-2614-4609.Notes to editors: 1. HSBC in Thailand HSBC was established as the first commercial bank in Thailand in 1888. With access to global expertise and enriched local knowledge, HSBC in Thailand provides a full range of financial services including corporate and institutional banking, global markets, securities services, trade finance, payment and cash management services to corporate customers; personal financial services and credit cards to a growing retail customer base in Thailand. HSBC is globally recognised for its high service standards, ethical practices and full commitment to corporate social responsibilities to benefit the local economy. 2. HSBC Holdings plc or the HSBC Group Headquartered in London, the HSBC Group is one of the largest banking and financial services organisations in the world. The Group’s international network comprises around 10,000 offices in 82 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, serves over 125 million customers and has assets of US$1,861 billion as at 31 December 2006. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) is the founding and principal member of the HSBC Group. Click for photo release at www.thaipr.net