26 June 2017 – About 670 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions will present books on a wide range of topics and in various languages at the 28th edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, which will be held 19-25 July at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). More than 310 cultural events catering to different interests and age groups will take place during the week-long event to raise public cultural awareness and interest in reading.
“The Hong Kong Book Fair Cultural Events Advisory Panel chose the theme of Travel for this year’s Book Fair,” said
HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau, as he explained how the event would move forward from last year’s focus on Chinese martial arts literature. “We hope that readers can learn about the world through reading the works of Hong Kong travel writers, even though they themselves may not have the opportunity to travel around the globe,” Mr Chau said, adding that the HTKDC will be “bringing in publishers and cultural promotion institutions from around the world as well as organising a series of cultural events to feature the cultures of different countries, under the theme ‘Reading the World ・ People, Places, Passions.’.”
Travel Writing in FocusIn keeping with the travel theme, this year’s Book Fair
Art Gallery, to be located outside the 3/F convention hall, will showcase a thematic exhibition “
Around the World Through Words”. The exhibition will feature a number of Hong Kong travel writers with varied backgrounds covering litterateurs, cruise expert, explorer, historians, war correspondent, novelist as well as writer and photographer, of which Leung Ping Kwan (Ye Si), Xi Xi, Rebecca Lee and Zhou Yijun are included. The gallery will feature their works together with photos taken and souvenirs gathered during their journeys, to build understanding about their travel works and generate interest in reading.
The Art Gallery will also host an exhibition called
Beyond the Picture to showcase photographs, paintings and various printed matter telling stories about different places in the world over the ages. It includes a section organised with National Geographic magazine to feature award-winning photographs that capture the culture, landscape and architecture of Hong Kong and other locations around the world. The series will also showcase “old Hong Kong” through the paintings of famous local artist
Lee Chi-ching as well as photographs, postcards and other printed matter.
Rounding out the Art Gallery will be “
A Journey to Sichuan”, introducing the Chinese province often referred to as “Nature’s Storehouse”. Visitors will be able to take in photographs of the sceneries in Sichuan, as well as manuscripts by famous writers from the area, a series of prized exhibits from Sanxingdui Museum, and performances of Sichuan opera face-changing, tea arts performance and folk music.
Renowned Writers Gather from Around the WorldThis Book Fair features eight seminar series to invite an international line-up of writers in various genres to share their viewpoints and writing tips. The HKTDC continues to collaborate with Ming Pao and Yazhou Zhoukan to co-organise the
Renowned Writers Seminar Series. Speakers in the series will include the Chinese mainland writers
Ye Xin,
Hang Shaogong,
Fang Fang,
Zhou Meisen,
Liu Xiaoqing,
Wang Chaoge,
Xu Zhiyuan,
Lu Nei,
Zhou Bing,
Xiao Han and
Hao Jingfang. Also taking part are writers from Taiwan, including
Chu Tien-hsin,
Tang Nuo,
Liu Ka-shiang and
Yang Ze, and from Hong Kong,
Leung Man-tao and
Craig Au-Yeung Ying Chai.
The Book Fair also encourages the public to read books in other languages to broaden their horizons. The
English Reading and Creative Writing Seminar Series, supported by the British Council, will feature three renowned UK authors, including crime fiction writer
Sophie Hannah and travel writers
Sara Wheeler and
Tim Moore.
The
World of Knowledge Seminar Series, supported by the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong & Macau, will feature three French writers including illustrator
Cédric Fernandez, film critic
Arnaud Lanuque who studies Hong Kong films and Afro-French novelist
Alain Mabanckou. The Consulate General of Spain in Hong Kong is also contributing to the international line-up, by arranging for
Peter Gordon and
Juan José Morales to introduce their new book on the China-Mexico route Ruta Via de la Plata which dates back to the 16th to 19th centuries.
Well-known Chinese mainland entrepreneur
Wang Qiang, who created his own Think in American English programme, will also attend the fair to share his reading experience, as will renowned local authors, including prominent designer
Kan Tai-keung, President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Prof
Tony F Chan, as well as the pilot
Hank Cheng and engineer
Gary Tat who together assembled a light aircraft in Hong Kong and completed a journey around the world.
Other seminar series include the
Theme of the Year Seminar Series, where a number of travel writers, academics and travel experts will share their views on travelling and writing as well as travel writing styles, the
Children and Youth Reading Series, which covers child growth and education, parent-child reading and children literature, and the
Personal Development and Spiritual Growth Seminar Series, in which travel expert
James Hong, Hong Kong swimmer
Stephanie Au and the physiotherapist
Elton Ng who conquered Mount Everest will share tales of inspiration.
Also on the schedule are the
Lifestyle Seminar Series, where local artists
Steve Lee and
Gigi Wong will share cooking tips, as well as sessions by
Yim Ho to share healthcare tips, by field photography group
Wandering Photography to share the joy of photography, and the
Hong Kong Cultural and Historical Seminar Series, where Dr
Ting Sun Pao, Dr
Clarence Yau and
Louis Koo who is the leading actor of
A Step into the Past, television series adapted from popular novel of same name, will discuss the works of the late martial arts novelist Huang Yi. Renowned Cantonese Opera actor
Franco Yuen will talk about Cantonese Opera education in Hong Kong. For more details and registration of the seminars, please visit the Hong Kong Book Fair website.
Wang Qiang, Founder of the Think in American English Programme, Production Director of Lonely Planet and other industry experts from around the world will also participate in the
International Publishing Forum to explore developments in this sector during a session targeting publishing industry players.
Reading about the WorldThe
International Cultural Village at the Book Fair features 26 countries and regions. France, Germany, Italy and Poland are among the countries setting up the
European Union Pavilion to exhibit books as well as organise a number of cultural events to increase public understanding of their local cultures. Japan will return to the fair with a group pavilion which represents 11 cities and prefectures including Niigata, Wakayama and newcomers Fukuoka and Tottori. The pavilion exhibitors will join forces with the Japan National Tourism Organization and the Japan Kadokawa Group to showcase aspects of Japanese culture.
Besides the seven-day Book Fair, the HKTDC will organise “
Cultural July” citywide campaign which will include more than 310 cultural events to promote reading. Taking place from the end of June until the end of July, it will involve cultural institutions, libraries, museums, educational institutions, shopping malls and cafés, in a combined effort to encourage greater public participation in diverse cultural events.
Concurrent Hong Kong Sports and Leisure ExpoTickets to the Book Fair are now available for public purchase, and visitors can also purchase tickets on-site at the fairground ticket office. The
Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo will be held concurrently from 21-25 July at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Sports and Leisure Expo features over 90 exhibitors to showcase sports-related products and equipment, as well as photography and art products and special interest classes. The fair will feature free trials of activities such as indoor rock-climbing and street workout workshops. Visitors can visit the Sports and Leisure Expo with a valid Book Fair ticket.
The 28th HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair
Date
19-25 July 2017 (Wednesday to Tuesday)
Opening Hours
19, 20, 23, 24 July: 10am-10pm
21, 22 July: 10am-Midnight (Hall 3 open till 11:00 pm)
25 July: 9am-5pm
Venue
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Admission
Adult Ticket: HK$25
Child Ticket: HK$10 (for primary school students / children under 1.22m tall)
* Children under 3 and adults over 65 will be admitted free of charge
Tickets
Tickets are available now at Hong Kong Ticketing and designated 7-11 and Circle K stores. Visitors can also purchase tickets onsite at the fairground ticket office.
The public can purchase admission e-tickets via Tap & Go mobile wallet starting from early July. More information will be available on Tap & Go’s website later.
Concessionary Tickets
Morning Admission Ticket (entry before noon): HK$10 (only on sale at the fairground each day)
Special Re-entry Promotion: Visitors who purchase a regular adult ticket (HK$25) or child ticket (HK$10) dated 19 or 20 July can enjoy one time free admission on 21, 22 or 23 July (Fri, Sat, Sun) after 5 pm by presenting the whole stub attached to the admission ticket.
The offer is not applicable to other types of admission tickets (including morning admission tickets, concessionary tickets, VIP tickets and complimentary tickets.)
Visitors with Hong Kong Book Fair tickets which are valid 21-25 July can also visit the Hong Kong Sports & Leisure Expo
Hong Kong Sports & Leisure Expo Website