The 26th HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, which today ended its seven-day run at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, welcomed more than one million visitors.
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Hong Kong Book Fair featured world-renowned authors as well as more than 580 exhibitors; there were some 360 cultural events including reading sessions, new book parades, storytelling by celebrities and art performances. According to on-site surveys, average spending at this year’s fair was HK$903; fiction, travel books, comics and literature were most popular among the buying public.
Praise and advice from top international authors
Booker Prize winner Ben Okri, attending the event for the first time, enthused about Hong Kong and the Book Fair. “I've always felt that Hong Kong is kind of a place of the imagination. I think if you mention the words 'Hong Kong' to people anywhere in the world they immediately have a picture of, a feeling in their minds,” Mr Okri said. “I was quite astounded by the Hong Kong Book Fair. I have been to some pretty big book fairs and writers' festivals in my time - some very big ones – but this is the most astonishing I have been to just for the sheer numbers of people I saw – it was a big enough number to fill a whole country." Watch the Seminar Session with Ben Okri here.
High-profile authors at the Open Public Forum (17 July) shared their views on writing with the audience. Simon Sebag Montefiore said: “All of us have the duty of simplifying and making complicated ideas and subjects palatable to a wider readership.” On the subject of new media and the Internet era, biographer Carol Thatcher said aspiring authors today have “never had it so good”. Ms Thatcher, the daughter of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, added, “There is so much information online … tips and guidance for aspiring authors, all that sort of thing. Make full use of it.” Swiss author and philosopher, Alain de Botton said his motivation comes from analysing the challenges people endure in the “first world” or developed world, such as stress, anxieties, careers and relationships. “These problems get me out of bed every morning,” Mr de Botton said. Watch the Open Public Forum video here.
Full House for author seminars
“The HKTDC organised over 360 cultural events during the fair period. Seminars of Lung Yingtai, Leo Ou-fan Lee, Hou Hsiao Hsien, Albert Leung, and the Open Public Forum arranged by Sir David Tang drew large audiences. Some seminars moved to larger venues to cope with demand,” said HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau. “That readers are able to find their favourite books and take part in different cultural events here means that the Book Fair has truly become a platform to promote reading and cultural exchange.”
In total, there are more than 610 events organised during the fair period and the Cultural July campaign, which continues until the end of this month. So far, these events have attracted a total of nearly 290,000 participants.
Reading consumer sentiment
In order to understand the reading and book purchasing habits of fair visitors, the HKTDC commissioned an independent on-site survey during the event. The survey, which interviewed more than 800 people, found that nearly half of the respondents came to the Book Fair seeking new releases, and 70 per cent of the respondents were seeking discounted items. In terms of book categories, most respondents said they would purchase fiction (56%), followed by travel books (28%), comics (25%) and literature (24%). Regarding spending, 67 per cent said their budgets were similar to the previous year, while 18 per cent said they planned to increase their spending at this year’s fair. The average per capita spending at the fair was found to be HK$903.
On reading habits, almost all (99%) respondents said they had read a printed book in the past month, spending an average of 25 hours reading. Meanwhile, 60 per cent of respondents said they had read an e-book in the past month, spending an average of 22 hours. The average spending on printed books in the past year was HK$1,786. The most popular book categories were fiction (66%), travel (41%), comics (40%) and literature (35%).
Book Fair: A cultural powerhouse
More than 580 exhibitors from 33 countries and regions joined this year’s Book Fair. As well as promoting books and cultural products, Japanese and French exhibitors also organised different art performances and workshops, enhancing the fair’s reputation as a vibrant cultural carnival. Over 300 speakers shared their thoughts on a variety of topics during the Book Fair. At the Renowned Writers Seminar Series, literary giant and Taiwan’s former Cultural Minister Lung Yingtai, said: “Hong Kong is an excellent venue to organise book fairs. It can even be a book exhibition centre in the region. I saw an international attendance at today’s seminar, and that is Hong Kong’s advantage. Hong Kong should find a way to turn the Book Fair into a cultural powerhouse, a cultural engine. There is much that can be achieved.”
A total of seven seminar series, including the Renowned Writers Seminar Series, were held this year. Videos from some of the events are available here.
Art Gallery
The Art Gallery this year comprised three sections; “Author of the Year – Leo Ou-fan Lee” featured the writer’s contributions spanning half a century in three sections: Man of Letters; Scholar; and Amateur. The “Lyrics That Moved A Generation: Half A Century Of Cantopop” exhibition took visitors down memory lane and showcased Cantopop’s evolution over the past 50 years. Also, “A Journey to Xinjiang” showcased Xinjiang’s distinctive cultural heritage through literature, traditional costumes, crafts and performances. The three thematic exhibitions attracted a large number of visitors.
Book Fair For All
To share the joy of reading with underprivileged children, and to inspire them to gain knowledge through reading, the SHKP 2015 Read To Dream programme this year sponsored more than 1,300 underprivileged children from 35 schools to visit the Book Fair and participate in the cultural events. Each child also received HK$250 from the SHKP and Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged to purchase books. Programme participant Samuel Leung said: “I will be going to Children's Paradise to buy detective novels and listen to celebrities tell stories.”
Cultural July – Reading On
While the Book Fair has concluded, the Cultural July city-wide campaign continues until the end of July. Cultural events still ahead include the Hong Kong Literature Season seminar, English storytelling workshop, theatre performance and documentary screening. For details, please visit the Cultural July website at http://hkbookfair.hktdc.com/CulturalJuly/.
Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Parker Robinson Tel: (852) 2584 4341 Email: parker.robinson@hktdc.org
