UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934





                             Hispanic Express, Inc.
                             ----------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)


                                  Common Stock
                                  ------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    43358F104
                                    ---------
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                December 31, 2001
                                -----------------
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)


This Schedule is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b).



The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).


                       [Continued on the following pages]

                                Page 1 of 4 Pages






Page 2 of 4 Pages                                            CUSIP #: 43358F104
                                                                      ---------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Name of Reporting Person:
     (I.R.S. Identification No. of above person):

     First Financial Fund, Inc.
     13-3341573

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Check the appropriate box if a member of a group:
     (a) (   )
     (b) (   )

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. SEC use only:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Citizenship or Place of Organization:

     Maryland

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        5.  Sole Voting Power

                                            574,200
                                        ----------------------------------------
     Number of shares                   6.  Shared Voting Power

     beneficially owned by                  0
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        7.  Sole Dispositive Power
     each Reporting Person with
                                            0
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        8.  Shared Dispositive Power

                                            574,200
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.   Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person:

     574,200

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.  Check if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.  Percent of class represented by amount in row (9):

     8.23%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.  Type of Reporting Person:

     IV





Page 3 of 4 Pages                                            CUSIP #: 43358F104
                                                                      ---------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  SCHEDULE 13G
                                  ------------

Item 1(a):  Name of Issuer:
---------------------------

                Hispanic Express, Inc.

Item 1(b):  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
------------------------------------------------------------

                5480 East Ferguson Drive
                Commerce, California  90022

Item 2(a):  Name of Person Filing:
----------------------------------

                First Financial Fund, Inc.

Item 2(b):  Address of Principal Business Office:
-------------------------------------------------

                Gateway Center Three
                100 Mulberry Street, 9th Floor
                Newark, New Jersey 07102-7503

Item 2(c):  Citizenship:
------------------------

                Maryland

Item 2(d):  Title of Class of Securities:
-----------------------------------------

                Common Stock

Item 2(e):  CUSIP Number:
-------------------------

                320228109

Item 3: Type of Person Filing Pursuant to ss.ss.240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
        or (c):
        -------

                An investment company registered under section 8 of the
                Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8)

Item 4:  Ownership:
-------------------

                (a)  AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED: First Financial Fund, Inc., a
                     registered closed-end investment company, may be deemed the
                     beneficial owner of 574,200 shares of common stock of the
                     Issuer.

                (b)  PERCENT OF CLASS: 8.23%

                (c)  VOTING AND DISPOTIVE POWER: First Financial Fund, Inc. has
                     sole power to vote or to direct the vote and shared power
                     to dispose or to direct the disposition of 574,200 shares
                     of common stock of the Issuer. First Financial Fund, Inc.
                     has shared power to vote or to direct the vote and sole
                     power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 0 shares
                     of common stock of the Issuer.





Page 4 of 4 Pages                                            CUSIP #: 43358F104
                                                                      ---------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                  SCHEDULE 13G
                                  ------------


Item 5:  Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:
------------------------------------------------------

                Not Applicable

Item 6:  Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

                Not Applicable

Item 7:   Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired the
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company:
          ---------------------------------------------------------

                Not Applicable

Item 8:  Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:
-------------------------------------------------------------------

                Not Applicable

Item 9:  Notice of Dissolution of Group:
----------------------------------------

                Not Applicable

Item 10:  Certification:
------------------------

                           By signing below I certify that, to the best of my
                knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were
                acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and
                were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with
                the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer
                of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in
                connection with or as a participant in any transaction having
                that purpose or effect.

Signature:
----------

                           After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my
                knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth
                in this statement is true, complete, and correct.

                                      Date:  February 11, 2002


                                      Signature:  /s/Arthur J. Brown
                                                  ------------------
                                      Name/Title:  Arthur J. Brown
                                                   Secretary