The HKJA organised a three-day Taiwan Studying Tour at the beginning of January. Besides meeting with the Taipei Mayor Mr. Ma Ying-jeou, we also got to understand more about the operations and objectives of Taiwan media by visiting organizations like ETTV, CTiTV, United Daily News Group, Apple Daily and the Department of Journalism of the National Chengchi University.
The 21st HKJA Cup final was held on 15 January and it was a close game. The HKJA invited the Best Footballer of the Year, Mr. Cristiano Cordeiro, to be our guest to present awards. The Oriental Daily News (A) team was the winner in the championship while Chai Wah Wah was the first runner-up, Cable Sports was the second and PTA was the third. The HKJA appreciated the efforts paid by every player during the game. We look forward to your continuous support for the next JA Cup and competing on the football field again.
Mr. Tsang Chun-wah, John, JP, Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, announced that an Independent committee was being set up to examine the future of public service broadcasting in Hong Kong on 17 January. The HKJA released a statement regarding our position, which members can read at the HKJA homepage (http://old.hkja.org.hk ).
Apart from all this, on 21 January we held the seminar: “Covering the WTO Conference: Lessons Learned”. Speakers includes Miss Rosanna Law (Assistant Director-General of Trade and Industry (Multilateral)); Mr. Cheung Tak-keung, (Acting Chief Superintendent of the Police Public Relations Branch); Mr. S Y Tam (Assistant Director of News and Media Research Division, Information Services Department); Mr. Eric Chan (Representative of the Hong Kong News Executive Association); and Mr. Vincent Yu (Chairman of the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association). Speakers expressed the view that holding WTO meeting in Hong Kong was an uncommon experience which helped journalists to do a better job.
The latest “The Journalist” will be focused on coverage of the WTO. We welcome you to share with us your experience during the WTO Conference. Moreover, the HKJA will organise many seminars related to journalistic work later, we hope they can benefit our colleagues and help them to become more professional. Please help us to improve and suit our members’ needs by giving us your valuable comments.
More than 40 members showed their overwhelming support to the Chinese New Year Pun Choy Lunch on 4 February. Besides experiencing the local Hakka cuisine, many of them got gifts from the lucky draw. We all shared a happy Lunar New Year weekend. The HKJA is going to hold another excursion on 11March. For details please pay attention to our later notice.
Last but not least, I sincerely invite you to consider taking part in the HKJA’s Executive Committee election in June to work for the HKJA. Through your experience in journalism, we can together defend our common rights and push forward professionalism and press freedom.