HONG KONG — As the China Daily Hong Kong Edition, a leading English-language daily, marks its 20th anniversary on October 6, 2017, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor led the tributes to the newspaper's civic commitment and influential role in advancing the "one country, two systems" principle.

"Throughout the historic transformational period of the past two decades, China Daily Hong Kong Edition has earned the respect and loyalty of readers through its insightful commentary and reporting. The publication has established itself as an influential player in the city's vibrant media scene, which includes more than 80 international media groups operating in the city," wrote Lam in her message of congratulation marking China Daily's 20th anniversary in Hong Kong.

The occasion also drew high praise from many other most respected leaders in Hong Kong. They spoke of China Daily's leadership role in opening closer dialogue and cooperation, drawing together Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and the entire Asia Pacific region.  

Tung Chee-hwa, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the first chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), said in his congratulatory message that China Daily Hong Kong "has evolved in step with enormous changes taking place in global media and continues its efforts to remain ahead. The paper serves the local community and also enjoys a vast readership outside Hong Kong, through several platforms embracing traditional and new media. I am confident that China Daily will remain at the forefront, and will go from strength to strength in the coming years".

Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the CPPCC and former chief executive of the Hong Kong SAR, also commended the paper, stating that over 20 years, "China Daily bridges over the language barrier to provide English language readers with first-hand information on China and hence foster better understanding of one-fifth of mankind." Leung expressed his confidence that China Daily Hong Kong would play an even more significant role in the future, as the Belt and Road Initiative evolves.

During the last 20 years China Daily Hong Kong Edition has established its place as a vital source of information for political leaders, business professionals and members of the academic community, through its authoritative coverage and analyses of the latest developments and significant milestones. Its reader base now extends well beyond Hong Kong.

As Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Media Group Zhou Shuchun wrote for China Daily Hong Kong's 20th anniversary edition, "Our Hong Kong publication was the first of China Daily's editions to be published from outside of the Chinese mainland and has garnered a substantial and loyal following of readers ever since, in Hong Kong as well as from across the Asia Pacific region and beyond. The paper has diligently brought news, analysis and in-depth research-based features about matters of importance to the local community as well as to a vast swathe of people from the world over who have a stake in Asia's financial capital. China Daily Hong Kong Edition has done a commendable job of bringing the world to Hong Kong and taking Hong Kong to the world these last 20 years."

Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, also commended China Daily Hong Kong's role in bringing people together, saying that the paper has "served as an important media platform for connecting people between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, and helped facilitating business development of the region".

Ho Lok-sang, dean of Business at Chu Hai College of Higher Education in Hong Kong, pointed out that China Daily Hong Kong "informs readers about the latest developments in the world's second largest economy and one of the world's most ancient civilizations on many fronts: economic, political, cultural, and social". 

Consul-General of Thailand in Hong Kong Asi Mamanee said "during the past two decades, this publication has proven itself as a reliable source of detailed coverage and valuable insight into development in China and the world."

The high-quality journalism produced by China Daily Hong Kong Edition has been acknowledged by the arbiters of excellence in media. In 2017, the paper won 11 awards, including four top prizes, at the Hong Kong News Awards, organized by the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong, bringing the total to 58. Noting that China Daily Hong Kong Edition has earned 49 awards presented by the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong in consecutive years since 2010, as well as four international news awards, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Hong Kong Edition Zhou Li said that these awards were achieved by beating the competition from long established competitors in both the English and Chinese media. "They demonstrate the publication's continuous pursuit of excellence and efforts to innovate to engage a wider audience."

Apart from its print edition, China Daily Hong Kong has moved strongly forward in adopting media digitalization, embracing new media. It has established a fully-evolved system across all platforms including the print edition, website, multimedia, news apps and social media, and has made great strides in producing quality video content. In 2017, the Hong Kong Edition's video team earned an award for International Digital Innovation of the Year in the United Kingdom, along with the SOPA award for Excellence in Journalistic Innovation. In just the first six months of 2017, the digital component of China Daily Hong Kong has attracted more than 100 million views.

In the spirit of providing better services to the community, China Daily Hong Kong Edition has pioneered in organizing major events, such as the "Campus Newspaper Awards", overseas exchange tours for Chinese artists to exhibit their works and to promote Chinese culture, and organizing visits by mainstream media groups from all across Asia to the Chinese mainland.

China Daily Hong Kong Edition launched the "China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable" in 2010, a prestigious event that has been staged more than 50 times, attracting leading authorities in business, academic and political spheres to offer views on how to build a strong Hong Kong. Focused dialogue and calls for collective action on strategic issues have set a high standard for exchanges on issues relating to the economy, business and social development in Asia. The objective from the outset has been to enhance communication and increase mutual understanding between China, other Asian countries and countries around the globe.

Looking ahead, China Daily Hong Kong Edition Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Zhou Li said the newspaper is prepared to explore, as part of the community, the exciting new world of opportunities presented by Belt and Road and other initiatives. "China Daily Hong Kong Edition takes it as its mission to keep readers abreast of the latest development on the new economic front, helping them to understand the ways in which Hong Kong can break out anew from its highly matured economic bases, and see new opportunities beyond our borders."

In celebration of its 20th anniversary, China Daily Hong Kong Edition has organized a forum, to be held on October 9 on the theme "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt & Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges". The forum aims to assess Hong Kong's advantages that may serve as springboards to a better future under "one country, two systems". An additional objective is to cement closer ties among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, working cooperatively toward the development of the Greater Bay Area.

Chief Executive of the HKSAR Carrie Lam will deliver the keynote address. Following, there will be a discussion by a distinguished panel headed by moderator Edward Chen Kwan-yiu, chairman of HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education. Panelists include Pansy Ho, group executive chairman and managing director of Shun Tak Holdings Ltd; Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, co-chair of the Maritime Silk Road Society; Li Xiaopeng, vice-chairman & group president of China Merchants Group Ltd; and Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung, secretary for innovation and technology of the Hong Kong SAR Government. At the conclusion of the panel discussion, the floor will be opened for more than 350 high-profile guests including entrepreneurs, academics and diplomats to ask questions and share their ideas on this important subject.

China Daily Hong Kong Edition won 11 awards, including four top prizes, at the HK News Awards 2016, organized by the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong.

Ding Ding. China Daily Hong Kong rides aboard Hong Kong's iconic tram in celebration of the newspaper's 20th anniversary of service to the community, with a promise that "the best is yet to come".

China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable, a prestigious, by-invitation network that has attracted leading authorities in business, academic and political spheres to share insights, has set the Belt and Road Initiative as a key focus.

The Campus Newspaper Awards, an annual event launched by China Daily Hong Kong Edition in 2012 to encourage budding journalists, attracted student participants of 38 universities from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and the Chinese mainland in 2016.