Hong Kong’s publishing industry launched its participation in the 27th Shenzhen Reading Month on Sunday, opening a month-long program of exhibitions, book fairs and talks aimed at deepening publishing ties across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Under the program, the special administrative region's publishing sector will hold about 30 events in Shenzhen through Dec 5. They'll include “The World of Hong Kong Kung Fu” thematic exhibition and book fair, “Book Fairs of Selected Hong Kong Publications” and the “Symposium on Historical Walk in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" all of which are sponsored by the SAR’s Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency.

The organizers said the events are aimed at promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two cities’ publishers and helping Hong Kong’s publishing industry explore new development opportunities.

ALSO READ: Book fair hailed as a gateway for deeper intl cultural ties

Speaking at the opening ceremony of “Hong Kong’s Participation in the 27th Shenzhen Reading Month” and “The World of Hong Kong Kung Fu” thematic exhibition and book fair on Sunday, Hong Kong’s Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries Drew Lai noted it was the fourth consecutive year the SAR had participated in the Shenzhen Reading Month.

The participation, she said, was in  response to the “Shenzhen-Hong Kong Co-Reading Consensus” initiated by Shenzhen, with the goal of fostering a stronger reading culture across the Greater Bay Area.

Lai and members of the Hong Kong industry delegation also attended the opening ceremony of the 27th Shenzhen Reading Month that evening, expressing support for Shenzhen’s efforts to promote reading for all.

One of this year’s highlights, “The World of Hong Kong Kung Fu” thematic exhibition and book fair centers on kung fu culture and showcases Hong Kong’s efforts to preserve and innovate Chinese culture. Members of the public can visit the exhibition and book fair free of charge at the atrium of UpperHills in Shenzhen from Nov 1 to 22.

ALSO READ: Novelist Jin Yong’s fantastic imagination should galvanize HK’s IP ambitions

The “Book Fairs of Selected Hong Kong Publications” will run from Nov 1 to 15 at Shenzhen’s Fan Deng Bookstore, and from Nov 1 to 30 at United Bookstore. Selected Hong Kong publications will be on sale, and eight lectures by authors, as well as  workshops, will be held.

The “Symposium on Historical Walk in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” will take place at Shenzhen Library on Nov 22. It will cover topics like Lingnan culture, the historical ties of overseas Chinese hometowns, the inheritance of Chinese martial arts and urban cultural development, with the aim of further deepening cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.