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EVENT

Exchange Program

2008 Hong Kong Journalism Fellowships

2008.09.11 - 2008.09.27

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:

Honolulu (11 – 15 Sept 08) (4 nights)

11 Sept

(Thu)

Welcome Dinner

 

 

 

12 Sept

(Fri)

Welcome and Introduction: opening remarks; self-introductions; administrative briefing
Ms Susan Kreifels, Media Programs Coordinator, East-West Seminars, East-West Center

 

 

East-West Center Briefing
U.S.-China Relations and Cross Straits Relations
Ambassador Raymond Burghardt, Director, East-West Seminars, East-West Center

 

 

Group photo at the Friendship Circle of the East-West Center

 

 

An Overview of Contemporary Hong Kong
Dr. Christopher McNally, Fellow, Politics, Governance and Security Studies, Research Program, East-West Center

 

 

China’s Political Economy
Dr. Christopher McNally, Fellow, Politics, Governance and Security Studies, Research Program, East-West Center

 

 

Current Energy Issues in China and Its Impacts on Global Markets
Dr. Kang Wu, Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, Research Program, East-West Center

 

 

Introduction to EWC Media Services, Mr. Derek Ferrar, Media Relations Specialist, External Affairs

 

 

Introduction to EWS Associates, Ms. Noreen Tanouye, Assistant Alumni Officer, Associates Office

 

 

 

13 Sept

(Sat)

East Asia Security Overview
Mr. Ralph Cossa, President, Pacific Forum CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies)

 

 

Current Issues in Chinese Law
Dr. Alison W Conner, Professor, William S Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii

 

 

Luncheon & Roundtable Discussion with the University of Hawaii Parvin Fellows

 

 

Discussion of study tour

 

 

 

14 Sept

(Sun)

Free

 

 

 

15 Sep

(Mon)

Fellows leave for Beijing 

Beijing (16 – 20 Sept 08) (4 nights)

16 Sept

(Tue)

Fellows arrive Beijing

 

 

 

17 Sept

(Wed)

Great Wall

 

 

Tiananmen Square, National Theatre, Forbidden City

 

 

Dinner hosted by Better Hong Kong Foundation at Wuyi Fengwei Restaurant

 

 

 

18 Sept

(Thu)

Meeting with Vice President Chen Yulu and teachers and students of Renmin University of China

 

 

Meeting with the National Development & Reform Commission

 

 

Visit the International Press Centre (IPC)

 

 

Lunch hosted by Qin Gang, Spokesman, joined by officials from the Department of North American & Oceanian Affairs and the Information Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

 

Meeting with Liu Mingkang, Chairman, China Banking Regulatory Commission

 

 

Hou Hai Huton tour (visit a family who received foreigners during the Olympics)

 

 

Meeting with founder Zhang Zhaoyang and staff of Sohu.com

 

 

Dinner hosted by Sohu.com

 

 

 

19 Sept

(Fri)

Meeting with State Environmental Protection Bureau

 

 

Meeting and lunch with Beijing Office of the HKSAR

 

 

Sun Weide, Spokesman of the Beijing Organising Committee for Games of the XXIX Olympics

 

 

Visit Water Cube, Bird Nest, etc. Olympic venues

 

 

 

20 Sept

(Sat)

Leave for Kunming

Yunan (20 – 24 Sept 08)

Kunming (1 night)

20 Sept

(Sat)

Arrive Kunming

 

 

Visit the Stone Forest

 

 

Dinner hosted by BHKF

 

 

 

21 Sept

(Sun)

Leave for Shangrila

Shangrila (2 nights)

21 Sept

(Sun)

Arrive Shangrila

 

 

Visit Gedan Songzanlin Lamasery

 

 

Lunch hosted by BHKF

 

 

Visit Pudacuo National Park

 

 

Dinner hosted by BHKF

 

 

 

22 Sept

(Mon)

Visit Diqing Branch of Yunnan Buddhism College

 

 

Visit Xiagei Cultural Eco-tourism Village; visit Tibetan folk handicraft workshops and Tibetan families

 

 

Lunch at the village (hosted by the BHKF)

 

 

Visit Tibetan Mastiff Breading Base

 

 

Visit Dukezong Old Town

 

 

Interview with Mr. Qi Zhala, Party Secretary of the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture

 

 

Dinner hosted by Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefectural People’s Government

 

 

 

23 Sept

(Tue)

Visit Tangdui Village in Nixi Township; view black pottery making and Nixi Chicken breeding processes, and visit local Tibetan families

 

 

Lunch at the village

 

 

Visit Shangri-la Alpine Botanic Park

 

 

Visit Gesang Flowers Company

 

 

Leave for meadow sightseeing

 

 

Leave for Kunming

Kunming (1 night)

23 Sept

(Tue)

Arrive Kunming

 

 

 

24 Sept

(Wed)

Visit Kunming City Planning Exhibition Centre

 

 

Luncheon hosted by H.E. Gu Zhaoxi, Vice Governor of Yunnan Provincial People’s Government

 

 

Leave Kunming for Hong Kong by KA761

Hong Kong (24 – 27 Sept 08) (3 nights)

24 Sept

(Wed)

Arrive Hong Kong

 

 

 

25 Sept

(Thu)

Breakfast meeting with Mr. Archie Tsim (Chief Financial Officer) & Mr. Henry Law (Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Communications Dept) of HKEx

 

 

Meeting with Mr. Lu Xinhua, Commissioner of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong

 

 

Lunch hosted by Mr. C Y Leung , Convenor of the Executive Council (Exco) of the HKSAR, with Exco members, Mr. Andrew Liao, Mr. Ronald Arculli, Dr. C H Leong, Prof Anthony Cheung, Mr. Bernard Chan, Mr. Jasper Tsang

 

 

Meeting with Mrs. Helen Chan, Acting Government Economist at Economic Analysis & Business Facilitation

 

 

Meeting with Mr. Edward Yau, Secretary for Environment

 

 

Dinner with Foundation members and guests at Dynasty Club

 

 

 

26 Sept

(Fri)

Meeting with AmCham members, Zoher Abdoolcarim, Peter Stein (Bureau Chief Hong Kong, The Wall Street Journal Asia) at Renaissance Harbour View Hotel

 

 

Table hosted by the Foundation at the AmCham luncheon at Renaissance Harbour View Hotel
Title: China’s Post-Olympic Economic, Social and Political Environment
Speakers:    Mr. Zoher Abdoolcarim (Asia Editor, Times International)
Mr. Thomas Easton (Asia Business Editor, The Economist)
Mr. Peter Stein (Bureau Chief Hong Kong, The Wall Street Journal     Asia)

 

 

Meeting with Mr Wong Yan-lung, Secretary for Justice

 

 

Meeting with Mr. C H Tung, Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and first former Chief Executive of HKSAR

 

 

 

27 Sept

(Sat)

Depart Hong Kong

Beijing


Visit to Great Wall


Visit to Forbidden City


Tiananmen Square


National Theatre


Visit to Renmin University of China


Presenting souvenir to Vice President Chen Yulu (2nd left)


Group photo with teachers and students of the Remin University of China


Visit to National Development and Reform Commission’s Bureau of Energy


Presenting souvenir to show our appreciation


Group photo after the meeting


Visit to International Press Center


Luncheon hosted by Mr. Qin Gang, Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs


Presenting souvenirs to Mr. Qin (middle)


Group photo with Mr. Qin and his colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs


Meeting with Mr. Liu Mingkang, Chairman of China Banking Regulatory Commission


Exchanging views on the recent global financial crisis


Presenting souvenir to Mr. Liu


Group photo after the meeting


Hou Hai Huton tour


Visit to a family who received foreigners during the Olympics


Group photo at the garden inside the Huton


Meeting with Dr. Charles Zhang, Founder and Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of SOHU.com


Presenting souvenir to Dr. Zhang (middle)


Visit to the headquarters of SOHU.com


The delegation is pleased to receive the mascot of Beijing Olympics


Meeting with the State Environmental Protection Bureau


Group photo with officials of the Bureau


Visit to the Beijing Office of the HKSAR Government


Presenting souvenir to Mr Sidney Chan, Deputy Director of Beijing Office (2nd left) and Mr. Allen Fan, Chairman of Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China (3rd left)


Group photo in front of the Beijing Office


Luncheon hosted by the Beijing Office of the HKSAR Government


Visit to the Beijing Organizing Committee for Games of the XXIX Olympics


Presenting souvenir to Mr. Sun Weide, Spokesman of the Organizing Committee


Group photo with Mr. Sun


Visit to Bird Nest


Visit to Water Cube


Visit to Stone Forest


The journalist (speaking) participating in the performance when dinning at a local restaurant


Arrived Shangri-la


Gedan Songzanlin Lamasery


Meeting the Living Buddha (in red cloth) at Gedan Songzanlin Lamasery


Chatting with lamas at the Lamasery


Overview of Gedan Songzanlin Lamasery


Visit to Pudacuo National Park, the first national park in China


Visit to Diqing Branch of Yunnan Buddhism College


Interviewing a teacher of the College


Visit to Xiagei Cultural Eco-tourism Village


Tibetan lunch


People of the Village singing a song to welcome the delegation


Traditional Tibetan hand painting


Making Tibetan incense


Woodblock printing of Buddhist manuscripts


Visit to Tibetan Mastiff Breading Base


Visit to Dukezong Old Town


Interviewing Mr. Qi Zhala, Party Secretary of the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (1st left)


Dinner hosted by Mr. Qi


Performers singing a song to welcome all the guests


Presenting souvenir to Mr. Qi Zhala


A journalist joining the dancing group at the Dukezong Old Town square


Visit to a local Tibetan family in Tangdui Village in Nixi Township


Napa Sea


Meadow sightseeing


Yak boat


Visit to Kunming City Planning Exhibition Center


Luncheon hosted by Mr. Gu Zhaoxi, Vice Governor of Yunnan Provincial People’s Government


Presenting souvenir to Mr. Gu


Breakfast meeting hosted by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange


Meeting with Mr. Archie Tsim, Chief Financial Officer of HKEx (middle)


Meeting with Mr. Lu Xinhua, Commissioner of Commissioner’s Office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong (right)


Headquarters of the Commissioner’s Office


Presenting souvenir to Mr. Lu


Group photo with Mr. Lu after the meeting


Mr. C Y Leung hosted a luncheon to the delegation


Members of the Executive Council also joined the luncheon


Thanking Mr. Leung for hosting the luncheon


Meeting Mrs. Helen Chan, Acting Government Economist (1st right)


Presenting souvenir to Mrs. Chan (Middle)


Visit to Environmental Bureau


Meeting Mr. Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment


Dr. Henry Cheng (sitting middle), Foundation’s Advisory Council Chairman meeting the delegation at the dinner hosted by the Foundation


Informal discussion with Chairman and members of the American Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong)


The Foundation hosted a table to the delegation at the AmCham luncheon


Meeting with Mr. Wong Yan-lung, Secretary for Justice


Group photo with Mr. Wong (4th right)


Meeting Mr. Tung Chee-hwa at the Office of Former Chief Executives


Group photo with Mr. Tung