Press Release - July 5, 2004

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) and the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), are pleased to announce the launch of the Dateline Hong Kong Fellowship 2004. Interested journalists are invited to apply before September 15.

The seventh annual working fellowship for Canadian journalists since the scheme was first launched in 1997, the 2004 fellowship is for working journalists in Canada to acquaint themselves with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People�s Republic of China.

Two fellowships are to be awarded and winners will travel to Hong Kong before the end of March 2005. The package offered includes a business class return air ticket between Canada and Hong Kong, six nights� hotel accommodation inclusive of taxes, service charges and breakfast and round trip airport transfer. Funding for the 2004 fellowship will come from the HKSAR Government. In addition to visiting places of interest, winners will be able to meet people of diverse views and cultural background including senior government officials, businessmen, other members of the local community and Canadians residing in Hong Kong.

To apply, each applicant must include a resume, a written proposal laying out what is to be achieved, and a written statement of support, including a letter of intent from the editor/producer to broadcast/publish stories/articles in the respective newspaper, magazine, radio or television station. The proposal can concentrate on any area of life in Hong Kong, including, but not limited to, business, trade, politics, infrastructure development, IT, tourism, housing, education, culture and environment.

Neither the HKSAR Government nor the CAJ will have any control over or rights to the work of the participants in the fellowship. Applications must reach the Canadian Association of Journalists, 1385 Woodroffe Ave. B-224, Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8 by Wednesday, September 15. A panel of three judges appointed by the Canadian Association of Journalists will select the winners. The result will be announced in October 2004.

The HKETO Director, Mr Bassanio So, said: �As the freest economy in the world and a vibrant and sophisticated international financial and trading center in the Pearl River Delta Region, Hong Kong is the best gateway to new economic opportunities in Mainland China and the rest of Asia, an international center for arts and culture and a preferred tourist destination. I urge interested journalists not to miss this golden opportunity of seeing for themselves Hong Kong - Asia�s world city.�

The CAJ President, Mr Paul Schneidereit, said: �This opportunity is perfect for any journalist who wants to learn more, first-hand, about one of the world�s most intriguing cities.�

Applicants for the 2004 fellowship must be members, in good standing, of the CAJ at the time of application. Membership forms are available from the CAJ national office or available at the CAJ website: www.caj.ca.

For more details of the Dateline Hong Kong Fellowship 2004, please visit the HKETO website: www.hketo.ca or the Canadian Association of Journalists website at www.caj.ca.



For more information, please contact John Tam, Chief Information Officer of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office at: 416-924-5544, e-mail: [email protected] or John Dickins, Canadian Association of Journalists, at 613-526-8061, e-mail: [email protected].