A turnaround by its media unit and disposal of non-core assets helped Global China Group Holdings Limited ('Global China') return to the black and post a net profit of HK$ 162 million for the year ended December 31, 2002 ('Period'). The company posted a net loss of HK$131 million for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2001 ('Previous Period'). Consolidated turnover climbed to HK$1,094 million from HK$1,032 million while operating loss narrowed to HK$79 million from HK$110 million. Of the earnings per share of HK$10.42 cents, the Board of Directors proposed to distribute one cent per share to its shareholders.

Operating profit of the Media Operations amounted to HK$9.9 million for the Period as compared with an operating loss of HK$67.2 million for the Previous Period. Revenue for the Period also witnessed an increase of HK$305.6 million to HK$899 million as compared with the Previous Period.

The turnaround of Newspaper Operations - Sing Tao Newspaper Group Limited - was attributable to the successful cost control measures and product improvement. Lower newsprint cost and better inventory control further enhanced the operational efficiency and profit margin. Contribution from overseas editions of Sing Tao Daily also rose significantly as the global markets, in particular North America, recovered from the repercussions of the 911 incident. The newly set up magazine arm China Touch Media Solutions & Services Limited, whose turnover accounted for more than 10% of the revenue of the Media Operations, also performed satisfactorily.

Global China formed a strategic alliance with dnmStrategies in April this year. The alliance combines the strengths of the two in areas of media business as well as event marketing. It is expected that the alliance will create synergistic efficiency for the business development of Global China as a whole.

Founded by the region's most experienced team of professionals in conference organization, dnmStrategies is one of the most reputable event consulting and management companies in Asia. The principals have extensive experience in developing high-profile conferences and forums across the Asia Pacific region. 

Through its long-term partnership formed with BusinessWeek, an authoritative business magazine, the company has been the exclusive producer of BusinessWeek's events in Asia. It stands out among its competitors by organizing several world-class forums such as Boao Forum for Asia, the Annual Asia Leadership Forum and a series of seminars specially catered for corporate decision makers and executive managers. These multinational conferences have helped to establish a strong business network and global media relationship for the company. 

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According to a market survey conducted by RARD, the readership of Sing Tao Daily reached 204,000 in March 2003. It has increased by 17,000 readers, amounted to over 8% increase over the previous month. It is a record-high after a readership of 210,000 recorded in December 1999.

Since the re-launch of Sing Tao Daily in September last year, the readership recorded a steady growth for six months consecutively. Mr. Lo Wing Hung, the CEO of Sing Tao Newspaper Group, attributed this breakthrough in readership to the Paper's editorial readjustment. 'Competition in the newspaper industry is vigorous in Hong Kong. The increase in readership shows that we are moving towards the right direction and the results are encouraging. It is a collective efforts from all staff members, in particular my fellow colleagues from Editorial and Circulation Departments. We are committed to shaping Sing Tao Daily into a healthy newspaper with high quality,' he emphasized.

The Sing Tao Daily has been dedicated more resources on business, political and education-related information. Together with the addition of two new sections, 'Rich and Famous' and 'Sunday Features' in the Sunday edition, the new face-lift of the Paper is well-accepted by readers especially those from the middle class.

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In response to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), an island-wide 'Love Hong Kong, Support the Frontline SARS Combatants' campaign has been initiated by Sing Tao Daily together with over 500 social groups from fields of mass media, professionals, academics, and the commercial sectors. Through a series of meaningful activities, the campaign aims at lifting the spirit of Hong Kong people to fight against the disease hand in hand with the frontline medial officers. The donation received will be given out as financial aids for the victims suffered from SARS and their families.

The campaign pays tribute to all medical officers who have been at the forefront of the battles for months through the following two events:

"Love Hong Kong: Salute to Frontline SARS Combatants", scheduled to be held in mid-June, will merit individuals and institutions, in particular all medical officers, hospitals and universities which have made significant contribution in combating against the virus.

"Inside Stories-the-Battles with SARS", supported by Sing Tao Daily, ATV and Phoenix TV, will report stories of the SARS patients and the recovered, together with their families and medical officers on their painstaking battles against the disease.

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Mr. Ho Kwok Fai, CEO of China Touch, revealed that the company had already appointed Mr. Lai Ting Yiu who is currently the Executive Chief Editor of Sing Tao Newspaper Group, as the Editor-in-Chief of Eastweek to oversee the overall operations and editorial matters. He added that the management is in the process of re-adjusting and fine-tuning the editorial direction of Eastweek, trying to rejuvenate the title into a magazine with a mission to reflect the truth and the interest of all Hong Kong people. While keeping the original style intact, the editorial coverage of Eastweek will put emphasis on news and current affairs presented in a livelier format. 'In this respect, we need a team of industry experts to enhance the quality of content so as to achieve our goal,' he said.

In addition, an independent third party editorial advisory board comprises seasoned industry veterans will also be set up to monitor the content of the magazine. 

Commenting on the business potential of Eastweek, Mr. Ho said the magazine, which had more than 10 years of history in Hong Kong, had commanded wide readership base and support from advertisers. He believed that with the new management and editorial team in place, the new Eastweek would be able to capture a significant market share after its re-launch.

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New product from China Touch! Spotlight falls on computer magazine PC Power this time. With the first issue launched on May 8, 2003, PC Power is a weekly publication that specializes in providing trendy IT-related information. Updates on latest products, components and accessories are also included. The new magazine is indeed an ideal DIY guide for PC 'fanatics' who would like to further equip themselves with professional knowledge. 

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Global China appointed Mr. Jim Sui Hing as the Executive Director of the Group with effect from April 24, 2003. Mr. Jim is currently the Managing Director of overseas operations of Sing Tao Newspaper Group Limited and was the Editor-in-Chief of The Standard. Mr. Jim is a seasoned industry veteran, having held senior positions in a number of major local and overseas newspapers and broadcasting companies, such as SCMP, The Oriental Daily News, Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company Limited and Fairchild Television, Vancouver.

In addition, the Group also appointed Mr. Timothy David Dattels as the Independent Non-Executive Director with effect from April 24, 2003. Prior to his retirement in January 2003, Mr. Dattels spent eight years at Goldman Sachs in Asia with the latest position held as Managing Director and the Head of Goldman Sachs' Menlo Park office. During his services with the company, he was also the Head of Investment Banking in Asia and served on its Asian Management Committee. Mr. Dattels held senior positions at First Boston and Sun Microsystems before joining Goldman Sachs.

The Group would like to extend its warmest welcome to Mr. Jim and Mr. Dattels and is confident that with the contribution of their expertise and wise counsel, the Group will continue to make solid progress in its future development.

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受惠於媒體業務的理想表現及出售非核心業務所取得的特殊收益，泛華集團控股有限公司（「泛華」）宣佈由二零零二年一月一日至十二月三十一日十二個月（「期間」）的全年業績轉虧為盈，錄得盈利一億六千二百 萬港元，而截至二零零一年十二月三十一日止九個月（「前期」）的股東應佔虧損淨額則為一億三千一百 萬港元。期間每股基本盈利為十點四港仙。經營虧損由一億一千萬港元大幅收窄至七千九百 萬港元，而綜合營業額則由前期的十億三千二百萬港元增至期間的十億九千四百 萬港元。董事會建議分派現金每股一港仙。

媒體出版業務轉虧為盈，期間錄得經營溢利九百九十萬港元，而前期經營虧損則為六千七百 二十萬港元。營業額收益亦取得大幅增長，較前期增加三億五百六十萬港元至期間的八億九千九百 萬港元。

媒體業務的突出表現主要受惠於集團以往所推行的一系列重組方案、對本地媒體業務採取嚴格的成本控制措施及海外業務的明顯復甦所致。

報章業務由於成本控制措施得當，特別是紙張成本下降及嚴格控制存貨，進一步提高了該業務的經營效率及邊際利潤。《星島日報》海外版的業務亦隨著世界各地，特別是北美市場逐漸從九一一事件所引發之低潮中復甦過來而大幅改善。此外，新成立的雜誌旗艦公司「華風媒介發展顧問有限公司」在期間的業績表現理想，其收益佔媒體業務總收益超過一成。

泛華集團與亞洲會議策劃顧問公司dnmStrategies於今年四月份正式組成策略性 聯盟，此聯盟結合了該公司在市場推廣和泛華集團在媒體業務領域的強項，彼此優勢互補，預料將能為泛華集團的整體業務發展帶來良好的協同效益。

dnmStrategies在籌辦各種國際會議與論壇方面皆具豐富經驗。該公司由一批資深會議籌辦專才組成，在業界具有一定的影響力。特別是其與權威財經雜誌《商業周刊》長期建立的合作夥伴關係，成為該周刊指定的會議承辦商，多年來舉辦不少權威性 的國際論壇，例如：博鰲論壇、亞洲領袖論壇以及一系列為企業決策人及執行級主管而設的會議與研討會等，期間建立了廣泛的商業脈絡及國際媒體關係。

根據RARD所進行的一項市場調查顯示，《星島日報》的讀者人數今年三月份達到二十萬四千人，較二月份增加了一萬七千人，錄得百 分之八的增長。這數字也是繼一九九九年十二月錄得二十一萬名讀者之後的另一新高點。

《星島日報》自去年九月進行革新以來，讀者人數持續六個月取得穩步的增長。星島報業集團行政總裁盧永雄先生表示，《星島日報》讀者人數突破二十萬，說明了該報的改版與重新定位取得理想成效，「香港報業競爭這麼激烈，在經濟持續不景氣的情況下能取得這樣的成績，實在令人感到鼓舞。讀者數目的增長肯定了我們的改革方向，也反映了大家的努力不懈；尤其是編輯和發行部的同事，更是花了不少心力，大家都希望能辦出一份健康而高素質的報紙。」

革新後的《星島日報》不但加強財經、政治及教育版的內容，週日版的更增添了「名人雜誌」及「名人副刊」，成功吸納新讀者群，令《星島日報》成為一份中產階級人士必讀的中文報章。

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有鑑於非典型肺炎疫潮爆發，《星島日報》聯同各大傳媒機構、工商界、專業人士、文化界及社會組織逾五百 個團體聯合發起「香港是我家—支持前線醫護人員」行動，希望透過一系列積極而有意義的活動，凝聚社會力量，與醫護人員並肩作戰，一同戰勝疫潮。籌得善款將會為非典型肺炎的病患者及其家人提供即時的經濟援助。

其他活動包括將於六月中舉行的「抗炎英雄致敬大會」，向各界積極參與抗炎的人士和組織頒發勳章和紀念盾，以肯定他們在抗炎過程中捨身救人的無私精神。

另外，《星島日報》、亞洲電視及鳳凰衛視會邀請非典型肺炎病患者、病者家屬、康復人士及醫護人員向香港市民分享他們的抗炎經驗，並作跟進報道。

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「華風媒介發展顧問有限公司」（「華風媒介」）專營泛華旗下雜誌出版業務，擬聘請超過百名員工以便為新收購的《東周刊》作好準備。集團在今年四月份成功收購該雜誌，並預期會在年底前復刊。

「華風媒介」行政總裁何國輝先生透露，該公司已委任現職《星島日報》執行總編輯的黎廷 瑤先生擔任《東周刊》的總舵手，負責雜誌的整體營運與編輯事務。他表示，集團管理層現階段正積極制定及調整《東周刊》的編輯方針，在不影響原有風格的情況下注入新的元素，例如生動 的新聞與時事性專題報道，希望能使之成為一本能以事實為本並照顧香港人利益的雜誌。「因此我們急需一批專才加入，進一步提高雜誌的內容素質以實現我們的目標。」 他補充說。

此外，《東周刊》也將成立一個由各界權威人士組成的編輯顧問委員會，負責監察該雜誌的內容。

在談到《東周刊》復刊後的市場潛力，何國輝先生認為該雜誌在香港已有超過十年歷史，多年來獲得不少讀者及廣告商的支持，他相信隨著新的管理層和編輯隊伍到位，《東周刊》必能憑著其嶄新的面貌及內容取得理想的市場佔有率。

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華風媒介又有新雜誌推出市場！剛於今年五月八日創刊的電腦雜誌《PC Power》以周刊形式出版，專門提供各種與資訊科技相關的潮流訊息、最新產品與配件介紹；它也可說是一本電腦DIY（自己動 手做）指南，為那些欲進一步提高自身技術與專業水平的電腦迷提供參考與指引。

泛華集團宣佈自二零零三年四月二十四日起委任詹瑞慶先生為集團執行董事。詹先生現時為星島報業集團有限公司之海外業務董事總經理，在擔任此職務之前為《英文虎報》之總編輯。詹先生擁有豐富傳媒工作經驗，曾於《南華早報》、《東方日報》、香港商業廣播有限公司及溫哥華新時代電視等香港及海外多間主要報館及廣播公司出任高職。

集團也同時宣佈委任Timothy David Dattels先生為集團獨立非執行董事。彼於高盛服務長達八年，於二零零三年一月退休之前為高盛亞洲區董事總經理並掌管該公司在Menlo Park之辦事處。任職高盛期間，Dattels先生也曾擔任該公司亞洲區投資銀行業務主管，並被委任為亞洲管理委員會之成員。加入高盛之前，Dattels先生曾於第一波士頓及昇陽電腦擔任要職。

集團對於詹先生和Dattels先生加入董事局表示衷心的歡迎，並深信憑他們在專業領域的豐富經驗，必能為泛華的長遠發展作出貢獻。