Hong Kong Book Fair 2023

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The 33rd HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will run from 19 to 25 July at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). With the theme of Children’s and Young Adult Literature, the Book Fair will showcase children’s and young adults’ literature, explore the depth of it and promote the fun of reading in the city, echoing the tagline Reading the World: The Joy of Reading for Children and Youth. This year’s Book Fair has invited acclaimed writers and speakers and organised more than 600 seminars and cultural activities.

Art Gallery highlights rich culture of Lingnan

Readers have always liked the Art Gallery which will have two thematic exhibitions this year – Featured writers of the theme of the year and Treasures of Lingnan Culture – at the HKCEC Hall 3 Concourse. The exhibition of featured writers will focus on the selected works and precious collections of the nine writers. They are A Nong, Chau Mat-mat, Wei Ya, Sun Wai-ling, Leong Monk-fung, Poon Ming-chu, Poon Kam-ying, and the late Quenby Fung and Ho Tsz.

They will share their views on the evolution of children’s literature and shed light on their writing experiences. Quenby Fung’s close friends Dr Justine Woo and Joanne Chan will attend the Book Fair on her behalf while Carmen Ho will join the talk on behalf of her late father Ho Tsz.

The Book Fair, together with the Ling Ngai Art Association, the Hong Kong Calligraphers’ Association and other organisations, will jointly launch the Treasures of Lingnan Culture exhibition showcasing calligraphy by famous artists, paintings from the Lingnan school and intangible cultural heritage – Canton Porcelain – to help promote the unique artistic heritage of Lingnan.

Wong Fei-hung is considered the guru of Lingnan culture. The Book Fair has dedicated an exhibition to honour his legacy by featuring books, martial arts magazines, movie programme booklets and stage photos related to his movies in the 1950s and 1960s, among other invaluable items, helping visitors visualise the history of Lingnan martial arts and culture. The Art Gallery will incorporate interactive design and display, bringing to life Lingnan customs and traditions.

Brand-new World of Art & Culture to facilitate cultural exchange

Sponsored by Create Hong Kong* (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the World of Art & Culture zone will be launched to further strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Curated by renowned Hong Kong designers, the zone vividly depicts literature and cultural arts related to the youth-focused theme from 24 countries and regions including France, Hungary, Switzerland, Spain, Korea, Brunei and more. The zone will also exhibit the awarded books under Children & Youth and Art & Design categories of Hong Kong Publishing Biennial Award 2023. There will be workshops where participants experience art, culture and creativity to help readers develop a deeper understanding of different cultures.

Brightest minds share tips on creative insights at Eight Seminar Series

The Eight Seminar Series continues to be a Book Fair highlight. The seminars include: Theme of the year, Renowned Writers, English and International Reading, World of Knowledge, Children and Youth Reading, Personal Development and Spiritual Growth, Lifestyle and Hong Kong Cultural and Historical. Partnering with Ming Pao and Yazhou Zhoukan, the HKTDC again organises the Renowned Writers Seminar Series addressed bv leading Chinese-language authors as speakers. Speakers include Yu Hua, considered one of the three most talented writers in China; Luo Zhen-yu, a motivational speaker with an online and offline audience of over 10 million for his New Year’s Eve speech; Ma Boyong, famous novelist; Xu Zhi-yuan, founder of the bookstore Owspace; Pang Bei, a Mao Dun literature prize winner; Chen Chun-cheng, a Blancpain-Imaginist literary prize winner, Guan Zhong-min, famous Taiwanese host; Shum Sai-shing, scholar of Hong Kong history; Brian Wong, Balliol College Rhodes scholar and Susana Cheung Chui-yung, a veteran journalist. They will share ups and downs of their writing journey with Hong Kong booklovers.

The Book Fair is privileged to draw high-profile English-language writers to host seminars for the English and International Reading Seminar Series. The special guests include Indonesian writer Jesse Q Sutanto, who won the 2021 Comedy Women in Print Prize; Theadora Whittington, a well-known British children’s book author who published The Sand Turtle; Jane Houng, a British children’s literature author who has been living in Hong Kong for more than 30 years; Winston Chu, Vice President of Society for Protection of the Harbour; Libby Lam, aka Lady Libby, children’s book author; and Mark O’Neill, an experienced researcher of Chinese history. Speakers of other series include Hong Kong pop band The Wynners formed in the 70s, former Hong Kong cycling team member Wong Kam-po, Executive Council convener Regina Ip and artiste Priscilla Wong. A broad spectrum of topics will be covered.

The Book Fair continues to invite many outstanding figures to share their stories with children at the Storytelling by Celebrities session. The speakers include Hong Kong education expert Dr Chan Wai-kai; orthopaedic surgeon Dr Liyeung Lucci Lugee; CEO of Chinese Estates Holdings Limited Chan Hoi-wan; Chairman of Board of Trustees of Wai Yin Association Mandy Cho, Chairman of Shininglife Charity Jade Kwan; artiste Coco Chiang and more.