A record 560 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions are taking part in the 24th HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, which opened today and continues through 23 July at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The annual fair, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), features more than 400 cultural events and about 300 speakers under the theme “Reading the World – Reading for a Better World.”
High-Profile Authors
The fair is showcasing a variety of international and local authors. This morning, Hong Kong author Nury Vittachi gives a public session. The English Reading and Creative Writing Seminar Series continues tomorrow with Mark O’Neill’s seminar, “The Story of My Missionary Grandfather in Manchuria,” and a forum, “Three Views on Documenting Hong Kong in English,” led by Nicole Chabot, Ira Chaplain and Jason Ng. Crime novelist John Burdett will lead a session on 19 July.
The fair’s Open Public Forum spotlights American writer Erica Jong and British writers Jung Chang and William Shawcross. Ms Jong is the author of more than 20 books, including Fear of Flying, which has sold 27 million copies. Dr Chang is best known for Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China; her books have been translated into more than 40 languages. The books of Mr Shawcross include the Queen Mother, the official biography of Queen Elizabeth. The 19 July event will be moderated by Sir David Tang.
Granta Winners
British novelists Joanna Kavenna and Louis de Bernières are also featured speakers. Ms Kavenna, the author of three novels, was named one of the 20 “Best of Young British Novelists” by UK literary magazine Granta earlier this year. Mr de Bernières, celebrated for his novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, was named to Granta’s once-a-decade list of young British novelists in 1993. Other overseas authors taking part include Durjoy Datta, who was invited by the Hong Kong Tourism Board to write a love story set in Hong Kong.
Renowned Writers Series
The Renowned Writers Seminar Series, organised by the HKTDC, Ming Pao and Yazhou Zhoukan, features 15 writers from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the United States. They include mainland writer Wang Anyi, author of The Everlasting Regret, lawyer Li Zhuang, Taiwanese poet and painter Xi Murong, and Hong Kong film director Wong Kar-Wai, who hosts a seminar on film, literature and martial arts with Taiwanese author Zhang Dachun this morning.
3D Caves at Art Gallery
Art Gallery highlights include “Pure Land: Inside the Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang,” an animated, 3D exhibition featuring a 360-degree panoramic projection theatre. Using virtual reality technology, the exhibition offers a close-up look at Buddhist wall paintings spanning 1,000 years in the Mogao Caves, a World Heritage site in northwest China. The exhibition is presented by the Book Fair in partnership with the City University of Hong Kong’s Applied Laboratory for Interactive Visualization Embodiment, the Dunhuang Academy China and the Friends of Dunhuang (HK), and sponsored by Sun Hung Kai Properties.
The Art Gallery also includes Wisely’s 50th Anniversary Exhibition, presenting the manuscripts, book covers and other memorabilia of Hong Kong writer Ni Kuang, author of the enduring science fiction series “Wisely.” Authors Ray Lau and Luo Luo will lead a seminar discussing the Wisely series on Saturday. An exhibition highlighting the achievements of the Book Fair’s “Author of the Year,” Chan Koon Chung, is also on display at the Art Gallery.
Featured Zones
The fair features a number of zones, including its largest English Avenue to date, Teens’ World and e-Books and e-Learning Resources. There, the Sino United Publishing is launching SuperBookcity.com, allowing readers to search and purchase millions of printed books and e-books. E-book vending machines are also being showcased for the first time. The HKTDC and 3HK are offering free downloading of more than 160 e-books.
“Storytelling by Celebrities” sessions are highlights of the fair’s biggest Children’s Paradise to date. The International Cultural Village presents the publications of over 20 countries, including Greece, Portugal and Turkey, with experts demonstrating Turkish calligraphy and ebru marbling. Books from such ASEAN countries as Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam are also available. Copyright Corner offers over 20,000 books for copyright trading; the Copyright Exchange Lounge, Hall 1D Concourse, brings buyers together with exhibitors selling copyrights.
Midnight Closing
The Book Fair will open until midnight 19 July and 20 July (Friday and Saturday). Special transportation arrangements allow visitors to take the ferry from Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui from 8pm to 11:30pm. Bus 105R and 111R are operating from 10pm to 1am, taking visitors from Expo Drive to Mei Fu and Kwun Tong respectively, every 10-15 minutes.
Website: www.hkbookfair.com/en
Fair Hours
17-18 July (Wednesday-Thursday) 10am-10pm
19-20 July (Friday-Saturday) 10am-midnight
21-22 July (Sunday-Monday) 10am-10pm
23 July (Tuesday) 9am-5pm
Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Corporate Communication Department:
Joe Kainz
Tel: (852) 2584 4216
Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org