After 33 years and one pandemic, the Hong Kong Book Fair remains a mecca for local book-lovers, writes Amy Mullins.
The fair is traditionally a big hit with students, and this year is no exception. Adding to the fair’s attraction this time is the theme “Children’s and Young Adult Literature.” (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
The 33rd edition of the Hong Kong Book Fair (HKBF) opened Wednesday, the fair returning for what could be considered its first post-pandemic event. The seven-day fair attracted 850,000 visitors in 2022, despite the pandemic — a more-than-respectable turnout, based on the pre-pandemic 2019 figure of 980,000. The previous year, 2018, had set the record with 1.04 million visitors.
For the uninitiated, the HKBF is organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), making it an important platform for access to literature. According to the HKTDC, 82 percent of attendees went looking for new releases in 2022. However, the Book Fair should not be confused with the Hong Kong International Literary Festival. “The festival is typically a more curated event, featuring a smaller number of literary figures who participate in panel discussions, readings and other events,” explains an HKTDC spokesperson. “By contrast, the Book Fair is a literary event on a much larger scale, offering a wider and more diverse range of literary genres, from children’s books to academic publications, in different languages; and it features a larger number of exhibitors and cultural activities.”
Under the tagline “Reading the World: The Joy of Reading for Children and Youth”, this year’s Hong Kong Book Fair features nine children’s and young adult literature authors, including Leong Monk-fung. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Another important stat is the one stating that 15 percent of attendees last year were looking for children’s literature. Data from publishing industry researcher WordsRated noted that kid lit and young adult (YA) book sales totaled US$11.34 billion globally in 2022, with the category expected to grow 3.5 percent in five years.
As such, the theme of this year’s fair is “Children’s and Young Adult Literature”. The fair aims to support reading among children and teens, as books for those groups have profound educational value, and reading is a major contributor to ideation, imagination, and the formation of worldviews, to quote an HKBF press statement.
This year’s more than 600 seminars and cultural events are organized under the tagline “Reading the World: The Joy of Reading for Children and Youth”. “The 2023 Book Fair places a strong emphasis on children’s and young adult literature, with the aim of inspiring young people to discover this genre and gain valuable insights for their personal growth,” notes the HKTDC spokesperson. On top of which, they add, “People of all ages can enjoy this category of book, rediscover the joy of reading, and reconnect with their childlike wonder.”
Under the tagline “Reading the World: The Joy of Reading for Children and Youth”, this year’s Hong Kong Book Fair features nine children’s and young adult literature authors, including Chau Mat-mat. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Fine print
For roughly the last decade, the HKBF has made a concerted effort to cater to young readers and, in an increasingly digital world, physical media. As of 2022, more than 35 million print copies of YA books are sold per year globally, says WordsRated. Commenting on the importance of children’s and YA literature, the HKTDC remarked, “Reading brings joy, inspires, and offers a window into new worlds and new perspectives.”
Some of those new perspectives will be shared in the “Storytelling by Celebrities” events — perhaps the most fun part of the fair. This year’s speakers include Hong Kong education expert Chan Wai-kai, Wai Yin Association Board of Trustees Chair Mandy Cho, mental health charity Shining Life Chair Jade Kwan, and actor Coco Chiang, to name a few. Nine children’s and YA literature authors are featured at the fair, among them Chau Mat-mat, Leong Monk-fung and Poon Kam-ying.
Under the tagline “Reading the World: The Joy of Reading for Children and Youth”, this year’s Hong Kong Book Fair features nine children’s and young adult literature authors, including Poon Kam-ying. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Not all the books and authors at the fair are targeted at YA readers. Other notable HKBF events include seminars — always a favorite with visitors — focusing on subjects ranging from this year’s theme to Hong Kong culture and history. The equally popular Renowned Writers seminars will welcome Chinese-language authors, including novelist Ma Boyong, Mao Dun Literature Prize shortlisted candidate Pang Bei, Hong Kong history scholar Shum Sai-shing, and journalist Susanna Cheung Chui-yung to talk about their writing journeys.
The English and International Reading series welcomes Indonesian comedy writer Jesse Q Sutanto, British children’s authors Theadora Whittington (2008’s The Sand Turtle) and Jane Houng (a resident of Hong Kong for more than 30 years), and Chinese history researcher Mark O’Neill. O’Neill’s panel, “Why Foreigners Like Hong Kong”, pivoting on the book of the same name, is timely, considering the city’s effectively closed status for the past three years and the recent exodus of expatriates. The book tells the stories of 24 foreign-born, long-term residents of Hong Kong and their contributions to the city.
The fair is traditionally a big hit with students, and this year is no exception. Adding to the fair’s attraction this time is the theme “Children’s and Young Adult Literature.” (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
The fair is traditionally a big hit with students, and this year is no exception. Adding to the fair’s attraction this time is the theme “Children’s and Young Adult Literature.” (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
“I’ve invited four of the (book’s) interviewees to tell their stories and answer the questions of the audience. We will have a German, a Zimbabwean, a Turk and an American. You will hear a variety of voices and experiences,” says O’Neill. “It was a great pleasure to write the book and meet the interviewees. Joint Publishing asked for a range of nationalities and professions to show the diversity of the foreign population in Hong Kong. After the closure for three years, it’s very important to welcome visitors from all countries, including authors.”
How well the Book Fair holds up under pressure is something only time can tell, but as bookshops vanish from retail spaces, it may turn into a must-do for book-lovers — though the expansion of Taiwan bookshop and lifestyle brand Eslite suggests book buyers will have at least one place to buy beyond the fair. (Eslite could not be reached for comment.) For now, the HKBF remains a key date for avid readers, parents and teens. “Overall, the Hong Kong Book Fair offers a unique opportunity to discover new books and engage in cultural events, and cultivates a greater appreciation for reading and cultural exchange,” concludes the HKTDC spokesperson. “The fair is a family-friendly event, at which children can discover the world via books.”
If you go
Hong Kong Book Fair
Dates: Through July 25
Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai
