Overview
Since the Hong Kong Journalism Fellowships program launched in 1996, the Better Hong Kong Foundation (“The Foundation”) worked with the East-West Centre, Honolulu, U.S. in organising this annual program for senior journalists from the U.S. major media. This year’s program included a 5-day seminar in Honolulu and a 12-day study tour to Beijing, Kunming, Shangri-la and Hong Kong from 11 to 27 September 2008. Led by Ms. Karen Tang, Executive Director of the Foundation, the delegation was comprised of 7 journalists from the United States and was accompanied by Ms. Isadora Chen of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Jimmie Chow, Communications Manager of the Foundation and Ms. Marilyn Li, Seminar Specialist of the East-West Center. (Please see below for the list of participants and itinerary of the study tour.)

Honolulu - Beijing
Before the study tour, the delegation first attended seminars in Honolulu where experts at China and Hong Kong issues were invited to give an overview on the two places. With the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Better Hong Kong Foundation organized the study program to China and Hong Kong. On 16 September 2008, the delegation arrived Beijing where they started their journey in China. To have a feel of the city, a sightseeing tour including visiting Great Wall and Forbidden City was held on the next day. The journalists were amazed and fascinated by both historic and the state-of-the-art buildings in Beijing.

In view of the recent global financial crisis, the meeting with Mr. Liu Mingkang, Chairman of China Banking Regulatory Commission was of great interest to the journalists where they were able to understand more about the financial policies and banking systems in China as well as Mr. Liu’s views on this global financial crisis. The delegation was also pleased to be received by Dr. Charles Zhang, Founder and Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of SOHU.com at the headquarters of the company. Dr. Zhang shared with the journalists his views on the internet development in China and also his opinion on the differences between Chinese and western culture. The group also visited the Beijing Organizing Committee for Games of the XXIX Olympics. After meeting with the Committee’s Spokesman Mr. Sun Weide, the journalists were thrilled to tour around the “Bird Nest” and “Water Cube” where were specially opened for the delegation. During the stay in Beijing, the delegation met with Mr. Qin Gang, Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as other senior government officials from the Bureau of Energy under the National Development and Reform Commission, and the State Environmental Protection Bureau.

The group also visited Renmin University of China and met with its Vice President Prof Chen Yulu, and had a fruitful and interesting dialogue with their students. On the last day in Beijing, the Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing hosted a luncheon for the group and explained the role of Hong Kong Government’s Office in Beijing and in other parts of the Mainland.

Kunming – Shangri-la
The second part of the study tour was a 5-day program in Kunming and Shangri-la. As the capital of Yunnan Province, Kunming is the heart of the province where the provincial government works and also serves as the hub of transportation of Yunnan. Mr. Gu Zhaoxi, Vice Governor of Yunnan Provincial People’s Government and other senior government officials hosted a luncheon for the delegation and gave an overview of the latest development and future planning of Yunnan Province. The delegates also paid a visit to the City Planning Exhibition Center and the famous sightseeing spot Stone Forest in Kunming.

Upon arrival in Shangri-la, the delegation was stunned by the beauty of the natural environment. Noting the significant influence of the Buddhism religion in Shangri-la, the delegation visited Gedan Songzanlin Lamasery and Diqing Branch of Yunnan Buddhism College to understand more about the living and education of monks. Mr. Qi Zhala, Party Secretary of the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture met with the journalists and answered their questions regarding to government’s policies on the city’s planning and development, religion, ethic groups’ cultural preservation, environment conservation, etc. Mr. Qi then hosted a Tibetan dinner where the delegates were sang and blessed by a choir of Tibetan singers. The group also visited Pudacuo National Park, Xiagei Cultural Eco-tourism Village, Tibetan Mastiff Breading Base, Dukezong Old Town, Tangdui Village in Nixi Township, Shangri-la Alpine Botanic Park and Gesang Flowers Company. During the 3-day program in Shangri-la, the group was given the opportunity to understand the diversity of China in terms of culture, custom, ethnic minority, geography, etc.

Hong Kong
On 24 September 2008, the delegation arrived Hong Kong, the last stop of the study tour. The breakfast meeting with Mr. Archie Tsim, Chief Financial Officer of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd was served as a kick-off of the 2-day program in Hong Kong. As the financial crisis was the hottest topic in the town, the group was eager to exchange views with Mr. Tsim on the financial issues, both locally and globally. The delegation enjoyed very much the luncheon hosted by Mr. C Y Leung, Convenor of the Executive Council of the HKSAR and the opportunity to discuss with its Council Members Mr. Andrew Liao, Mr. Ronald Arculli, Dr. C H Leong, Prof Anthony Cheung, Mr. Bernard Chan and Mr. Jasper Tsang on various development issues in Hong Kong as well as international affairs.

Mr. Lu Xinhua, Commissioner of the Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong briefed the delegation on the relationship between Hong Kong and the Mainland and the responsibilities of his office in dealing with external affairs for Hong Kong. The group visited the Office of Former Chief Executives where Mr. Tung Chee-hwa, the first Chief Executive of the HKSAR and Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, shared his views on the developments of Hong Kong as well as those in the Mainland China.

The Foundation hosted a dinner at the Dynasty Club where the journalists not only met the Foundation members but also guests from local business sector, academic and media. Dr. Henry Cheng, Chairman of Advisory Council of the Foundation, Council Members Dr. Roy Chung, Mr. Thomas Woo, Ms. Winnie Ng and Mr. Albert Ip showed their support at the dinner.

Meetings with key officials of the HKSAR Government including the Secretary for Justice Mr. Wong Yan-Lung, the Secretary for the Environment Mr. Edward Yau and the Acting Government Economist Mrs. Helen Chan were conducted so as to give the journalists some ideas about the legal, environmental and financial policies in Hong Kong. In addition, the Foundation also hosted a table at the luncheon presentation entitled “China’s Post-Olympic Economic, Social and Political Environment” where the delegation was able to discuss with the speakers Mr. Zoher Abdoolcarim, Asia Editor of Times International, Mr. Thomas Easton, Asia Business Editor of the Economist, and Mr. Peter Stein, Bureau Chief Hong Kong of the Wall Street Journal Asia, as well as the President and members of the American Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong.

Executive Director Ms. Karen Tang expressed her gratitude to the East-West Center and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their support and was grateful to all the participants for their active participation and cooperation to make the trip a success. In return the participants responded that the program enabled them a better understanding of China and Hong Kong. As one participant said that the program deepened her understanding of a broad range of issues in Hong Kong and the mainland China in a way that is only possible by actually visiting a country.

List of Participants:

1. Mr. Travis Altman, Producer, Fox Business Network, New York, New York
2. Ms. Lisa Girion, Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California
3. Ms. Leslie Hook, Editorial Page Writer, The Wall Street Journal Asia, Hong Kong
4. Ms. Kathleen Ingley, Editorial Writer, Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona
5. Ms. Toni Randolph, Reporter, Minnesota Public Radio, St. Paul, Minnesota
6. Ms. Lori Ruggiero, Producer, CNN/American Morning, New York, New York
7. Mr. Steve Wilhelm, Staff Writer, Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle, Washington

Detailed Itinerary: