Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 36th Hong Kong Book Fair, the 9th Sports and Leisure Expo and the 6th World of Snacks all open today, and will run concurrently for seven days (15 to 21 July) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). With just one ticket, the public and tourists can enjoy a vibrant summer event that combines the joy of reading, sports and leisure, and tasty snacks from around the world. An opening ceremony was held today, with Cheuk Wing-hing, Acting Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), officiating and delivering the opening address, while Professor Frederick Ma, HKTDC Chairman, delivered the welcome remarks.Professor Frederick Ma, HKTDC Chairman, said: “The Hong Kong Book Fair is not only one of Asia's most influential cultural events, but also an important platform that connects different cultures and promotes mutual learning and exchange. This year, the Hong Kong Book Fair Cultural Events Advisory Panel selected ‘Reading the World: Cultural Legacy | Joyful Journeys’ as the theme of the year. Through reading, we hope to inspire readers to set out from Hong Kong to explore the history, culture and way of life of destinations around the world. Authors, scholars and cultural figures from across the globe will gather in Hong Kong to exchange ideas and insight, further reinforcing Hong Kong's unique role as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.”
He added: “Building on the synergy of the three concurrent events, this year's Book Fair will be held alongside the Sports and Leisure Expo and the World of Snacks. Together, the three fairs have attracted more than 770 exhibitors, offering residents and tourists a rich experience that combines reading, sports and gastronomy, making it one of the highlights of Hong Kong's summer events.”
The Eight Seminar Series connects authors and readers
The Hong Kong Book Fair features eight themed seminar series, including Theme of the Year, Renowned Writers, English and International Reading, World of Knowledge, Children and Youth Reading, Hong Kong Cultural and Historical, Lifestyle, and Personal Development and Spiritual Growth. Spreading across a wide spectrum of cultural and lifestyle topics, the seminars provide readers with valuable opportunities to engage with authors, scholars and cultural figures from around the world. The Theme of the Year Seminar Series features Cheng Po-hung, Museum Expert Adviser of the Hong Kong Museum of History, who takes readers on a journey through Hong Kong's century-long history of tourist attractions and entertainment landmarks (15 July). Chinese modern literature scholar Xu Zidong will share his insight on society and the literary landscape (18 July), while Cantonese opera star Law Kar-ying, together with Alisa Shum, former Chief Executive of the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong, will discuss the inheritance of Cantonese opera (19 July).
The Renowned Writers Seminar Series, co-organised with Ming Pao and Yazhou Zhoukan, also features an impressive line-up. Hong Kong cultural studies scholar Louis Yu discusses the importance of urban culture in global sustainable development (15 July). One of the leading figures of Chinese avant-garde fiction, Su Tong, will explore how literature springs from everyday life through the theme of life and writing (17 July).
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