The annual Hong Kong Book Fair returns as scheduled. The 36th Hong Kong Book Fair will run from July 15 to 21 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre under the theme “Cultural Heritage · Travel to Enrich Life”. Co-located with the Hong Kong Sports & Leisure Expo and the Snack World, the event brings together 770 exhibitors and stages more than 600 cultural programmes. Organisers hope visitors can savour the joy of travelling through reading and witness how traditional culture is carried forward in modern society. Tickets are now on sale; a single admission pass grants access to all three concurrent exhibitions, letting guests immerse themselves in the pleasures of reading, sports and snacks.
Ku Ching-man, Vice President of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), delivered a speech at yesterday’s book fair press conference. She explained that the annual theme was selected by the fair’s cultural programme advisory panel to encourage readers to explore the inheritance and innovation of traditional culture through books. The council also hopes people can gain profound appreciation for the beauty of humanity and nature via cultural and eco-tourism, broadening their horizons and nourishing their souls on journeys.
Inaugural ASEAN Literature Festival
Ku remarked that the book fair has evolved into a city-wide reading festival, and organisers aim to exceed last year’s attendance of 890,000 visitors. Asked about contingency plans in the event of typhoons similar to last year, she noted: “Last year we opened one hour earlier in the morning and extended afternoon opening hours by one hour, yet many exhibitors said the adjustment brought limited benefits. We can only hope for favourable weather this year.”
She went on to share that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the HKTDC. On the second day of the fair, HKTDC Chairman Ma Shi-hung will join Hong Kong artist Li Mei-yan (pen name: Messy Desk) and over 100 students to paint Hong Kong’s transformations and document urban memories, passing down cultural heritage.
Eight lecture series will be featured this year: Annual Theme, Renowned Writers, English & International Reading, Global Perspectives, Children & Youth Reading, Local Culture & History, Leisure Living, and Inspiration & Wellness. The Renowned Writers Series gathers celebrated authors from home and abroad, including Liu Zhenyun, Su Tong, Bi Feiyu and Liu Jiakun.
The English & International Reading Series will host talks by numerous overseas authors. To boost cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and ASEAN nations, the organiser will launch the first-ever ASEAN Literature Festival within this segment.
During the fair, a panel of aerospace specialists including Professor Wu Bo from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professors Gao Yang and Su Hui from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and So Chu-wing, Director of the Hong Kong Space Museum, will host a session titled “Chasing the Starry Sky: Achievements and Future of China’s Aerospace Programme” on the afternoon of July 20, introducing the development milestones and fruitful accomplishments of China’s space missions to the public.
The Creative Space, launched last year, enters its second edition. Delegations from Fujian, booths from Hangzhou, and Hong Kong antique art shop Jigu Zhai will showcase local intangible cultural heritage crafts, distinctive cultural and creative merchandise, and premium IP products.
Yunnan Themed Pavilion
The Mainland Publishing Pavilion features Yunnan as its themed province this year, themed “Sharing One River, Reading Ten Thousand Volumes”. Forty-nine publishing houses will display and sell around 20,000 fine books, showcasing Yunnan’s diverse ethnic cultures and distinctive cultural tourism resources.
The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Office of the HKSAR Government continues to fund multiple fair activities, such as the World Arts Gallery, the International Publishing Forum and the IP Roundtable Conference. The International Publishing Forum will hold a session “Nationwide Reading in the AI Era: Reinvention and Coexistence”, while the IP Roundtable will explore “Intellectual Property in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Challenges, Transformation and Emerging Opportunities”, examining new development trends of AI in contemporary society through panel discussions.
For the Hong Kong Sports & Leisure Expo, the Hong Kong Playground Association will set up the “Fitness Challenge Tower”, integrating obstacle racing and physical fitness trials. Visitors can tackle obstacle courses of varying difficulty levels and experience the charm of obstacle racing, a newly added Olympic sport.
Organisers will also give away 60 Super Book Lover Passes. Members of the public who take part in the HKTDC 60th Anniversary Facebook game stand a chance to receive one.（Outlook New Era）