(10 February 2003, Hong Kong) Lee Kum Kee, Hong Kong Tourism Board and Chinese Cuisine Training Institute are to co-organize The 4th All Japan Young Chefs Chinese Culinary Contest, a biennial contest aims at strengthening and enhancing Chinese culinary professional exchange between Hong Kong, Japan and the East Asian region. The contest, which is organized by the Japanese Association of Chinese Cuisine (JACC), the most influential trade association for Chinese cuisine in Japan, is the most remarkable Chinese culinary contest in Japan. 40 young Japanese chefs will arrive at Hong Kong on 24 February 2003 to participate in a 4-day Chinese culinary event, which is to be held from 24 to 27 February 2003.

Mr. Eddy Lee, Chairman of Lee Kum Kee Co. Ltd., said, ¡§The All Japan Young Chefs Chinese Culinary Contest is the most remarkable event on Chinese cuisine in Japan. This biennial contest aims at encouraging young Japanese chefs to enhance their Chinese culinary expertise, which perfectly matches with our mission to promote Chinese cuisine, thus, we co-organize this contest again with the Hong Kong Tourism Board and Chinese Cuisine Training Institute this year.¡¨

The contest is divided into four categories namely Hot Dish (Seafood), Set Meal, Hot Dish (Meat) and Dessert. 40 finalists, who are aged between 21 & 40 and are the winners of the semi-final contest held in Japan, will arrive at Hong Kong on 24 February 2003. They will participate in the final contest, which will be held on 26 February 2003 at the Chinese Cuisine Training Institute, in pursuit of the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards. Moreover, 250 Japanese tourists will be coming to Hong Kong as well to support the contest and encourage the 40 contestants, while taking the chance to tour Hong Kong.

A 16-member judging panel comprises 8 Japanese JACC officials and 8 Hong Kong judges. The 8 Hong Kong judges include renowned food critics such as Mr. Willie Mark and Ms. Doreen Leung, as well as famous chefs such as Mr. Jimmy Hui, Mr. Chow Chung and Mr. Chow Kuen Chung.

The All Japan Young Chefs Chinese Culinary Contest has already been held for 3 times. The first and second contests were held in Tokyo in 1996 and 1998 respectively, this contest, starting the third one in 2001, was held in Hong Kong with the support from Lee Kum Kee, Hong Kong Tourism Board and Chinese Cuisine Training Institute.