How can I display imported unicode Chinese in ACCESS 2003?

I have converted an ACCESS 2.0 database with Big5 encoded Chinese characters
to an ACCESS 2003 database. Because the Big5 characters were not legible, I
exported the tables as text files and ran them through a code converter to
change to UTF-8 encoding. When I import the text files into ACCESS 2003 as
tables, the UTF-8 characters do not display--just garbage.

I have opened the converted character files in MS Word and in Wordpad; the
UTF-8 Chinese characters display properly in both instances. They do not,
however, display correctly in EXCEL--just garbage the same as in ACCESS 2003.

I have tried setting the default font for the database to Lucinda sans
unicode under tools/options/ but he result is the same--garbage.

What do I need to do for the converted UTF-8 Chinese characters to displkay
properly? (Note: I can enter Chinese characters from my keyboard that
display correctly in ACCESS 2003).