Book fair after-Covid chapter to focus on kids and young adults

Some 760 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions will participate in this year's Hong Kong Book Fair penciled for July 19 to 25 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The first post-pandemic bookfest will showcase renowned authors, including Chinese novelist and screenwriter Liu Zhen-yun

"Reading the World: The Joy of Reading for Children & Youth" is the theme, with an emphasis on children's and young adult literature.

The organizer, Hong Kong Trade and Development Council, said the fair aims to inspire young adults to cultivate their passion for literature and acquire valuable skills. It also hopes to encourage adults to rediscover the joy of reading and reconnect with nostalgic wonders.

Over 600 cultural activities will be organized at the fair, including talks and cultural performances.

Admission fee for adults is HK30, up by HK$5, but it remains the same for children at HK$10. E-tickets are available online from today or can be bought at convenience stores.

The fair will be hosted alongside the Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo and the World of Snacks, a food and beverage expo.

The sports and leisure expo is free for visitors, who can experience a flight simulator from Wings Flight Academy and go skateboarding under Seeds Skateboarding Institutions.

The World of Snacks will feature six zones, including travel delights, and offer more than 1,000 treats from around the globe.

TDC deputy executive director Sophia Chong Suk-fan said: "The theme this year, History and City Literature, selected by the Hong Kong Book Fair Cultural Events Advisory Panel, is particularly meaningful. Only through words and texts can the city's historical evolution from a small fishing village to an international metropolis be so well depicted and documented.

"These countless wonderful books help narrate many of the city's stories."

Renowned authors like Liu, winner of the Mao Dun Literature Prize, documentary photographer Liu Heung-shing, Hong Kong historian Sun Sai-shing, Chinese literature scholar Xu Zi-dong, art curator Li Pi and internationally renowned art critic Johnson Chang will share their creative literary journeys.

When asked about censorship at the fair, Chong said: "We do not apply censorship on any of the publications at the book fair as long as they belong to Category 1 publications that are nonviolent, nonobscene and non-indecent articles, because I think a lot of exhibitors are already familiar with the house rules.

"They [exhibitors] need to abide by Hong Kong laws and be within the rules and regulations of the organizer."

While last year's book fair drew 850,000 visitors amid the pandemic, Chong expects larger crowds this year as travel has resumed and visiting authors also attract crowds.

She added that the MTR station offers an added advantage for visitors traveling from the New Territories.

adrian.wong@singtaonewscorp.com