HONG KONG's Ming Pao newspaper launched Vancouver's first Chinese language daily newspaper over the weekend, less than six months after beginning a similar venture in Toronto.
Newspaper management and staff were joined by politicians at a packed launching party at British Columbia Place. Premier Michael Harcourt and provincial Liberal Party leader Gordon Campbell delivered welcoming remarks.
Ming Pao Holdings (Canada), a subsidiary of Ming Pao Enterprise Corporation, will publish the paper seven days a week with an initial circulation of more than 10,000 in the greater Vancouver area, home to some 200,000 Chinese people.
Eventually, circulation is expected to stabilise at about 15,000 to 20,000.
Ming Pao chairman Kelly Cheng said early demand for the paper was strong.
''We've had a great start,'' Mr Cheng told the South China Morning Post . ''The circulation has exceeded our wildest expectations.'' For both Canadian editions, Ming Pao invested about C$10 million (HK$58.8 million). Since hitting the streets on May 28, the Toronto edition has sold briskly and has been expanded to almost 80 pages.
The weekday Vancouver newspaper will consist of up to 64 pages, while a Sunday edition will include a magazine.