HKCEC Young Female Chef Clinches Three Golds in Two Years

(Hong Kong, 4 July 2008) Jean Ho, 22, has won three gold awards in culinary competitions in two years since becoming a Junior Chef (Western Kitchen) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in 2006.

Jean triumphed in the male-dominated chefdom by winning the Norwegian Seafood Young Chefs Challenge. Prior to the win, Jean took her first gold medal in cooking last year in the Hong Kong International Culinary Classic (HKICC) at HOFEX 2007*.

In April this year, Jean joined the Hong Kong Chefs Association's (HKCA) eight-member Hong Kong Ladies & Cuisine Gourmet Team and took home another gold award in the Culinary Classic, Food & Hotel Asia Gourmet Challenge (FHA 2008) held in Singapore.

"The triumph was also a triumph for the HKCEC team who helped me through thick and thin with their advice and inspiration in the kitchen throughout these competitions. It was made possible only with the blessing of the HKCEC management," Jean said.

"The HKCEC management always encourages our chefs to take part in different competitions. The process helps hone their skills for the benefit of our customers," said Mr Maurice Kong, HKCEC's Director of Food and Beverage.

The Young Chefs Challenge grand prize won Jean a study trip to Norway and a stint at a top Norwegian restaurant in Oslo.

A pastry chef's daughter, Jean cut her teeth in the food and beverage industry four years ago as an apprentice in different restaurants, after she finished a diploma course in travel and tourism at the YMCA College of Continuing Education.

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Ltd is a member of NWS Holdings Limited. NWS Holdings Limited ("NWS Holdings", Hong Kong stock code: 659), the infrastructure and service flagship of New World Development Company Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 17), embraces a diversified range of businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Macau. Its Infrastructure portfolio includes Roads, Energy, Water and Ports projects. Its Service & Rental division comprises Facilities Rental (the management of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and ATL Logistics Centre), Contracting (Hip Hing Construction and NWS Engineering), Financial Services (Taifook Securities and New World Insurance) and Other Services (New World First Bus, Citybus and New World First Ferry).

*The 12th Asian International Exhibition of Food & Drink, Hotel, Restaurant & Foodservice Equipment, Supplies & Services