香港報業公會主席
李祖澤獻辭

　　香港報業從1841年創刊的英文報紙Hong Kong Gazette起，有163年歷史。香港中文報業從1858年創刊的《中外新報》算起，也已有146年歷史。而香港報業公會於1954年由岑維休先生等創立，迄今走過了整五十年的里程，香港報業見證了香港從受侮辱到回歸中華人民共和國的歷史變遷，也參與和反映了香港從落後貧弱到經濟騰飛的輝煌歷程。

　　香港報業因此而在中國報業發展史上居有重要地位，而香港傳媒工作者也以其拼搏精神而為人們所稱道。

　　傳媒工作力求客觀、公正、準確而及時，這是我們的天職，也是我們始終必須堅持而不能悖逆信條。「香港最佳新聞獎」表彰了香港報業工作各個方面的佼佼者，表明他們贏得了社會各界尤其是專業人士的讚賞，我衷心祝賀各位得獎者，同時還竭誠希望我們每一位報業工作者都能做得更好，為香港廣大市民的福祉，為我們的更美好明天，盡我們傳媒應盡的一份責任。

Lee Cho Jat
Chairman's message

    The newspaper industry in Hong Kong dates back to 163 years. Then in 1841 the first English-language newspaper, Hong Kong Gazette, was born. And in 1858, the first Chinese-language newspaper was established. The Chinese-language newspaper aalso have a history of 146 years.

    The Newspaper Society of Hong Kong was founded in 1954 and this year marked its golden jubilee. During the past 50 years, our newspapers have witnessed the major economic and political metamorphosis in the territory from a tranquil colonial fishing village growing into a major financial center of the world; and finally emerging as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

    For the past 100 years, the newspaper industry in Hong Kong has played a pivotal role in the developments of newspapers of China. Local journalists are known for their untiring spirit and demanding professionalism. Our journalists have been striving for gathering news that is objective, fair, accurate and timely. This is the doctrine that has obsessed us in the past and shall continue into the future without let.

    The Hong Kong News Awards represents the highest professional standards of journalism in Hong Kong. Winners of the awards are acknowledged as outstanding practitioners of the craft as much as their contribution in upholding the high reputation of our newspaper industry. For many years the News Awards has been hailed as the most authoritative award in our newspaper industry.

    I congratulate all award winners; and I do so in the earnest hope that they would continue to commit their skills and talents to the best interests of Hong Kong and the people they serve.