Hong Kong Book Fair Promises Exciting Literary Line-Up
The 22nd edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair opened today with distinguished authors from around the world, including the United Kingdom’s Nicholas Coleridge, Karl Taro Greenfeld of the United States, India’s Tabish Khair and the Chinese mainland’s Bi Feiyu.More than 520 exhibitors from 24 countries and regions, a new exhibitor record, are taking part at the fair organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), 20-26 July, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). It also features close to 300 cultural events under the theme “Reading the World, Reading as Self-discovery.”
Public Forums
Four British authors – historian and broadcaster Dr David Starkey, critic and essayist AA Gill, food writer Tom Parker Bowles and novelist and publisher Nicholas Coleridge – will speak at two open forums, 22 July at the HKCEC, and 23 July at the University of Hong Kong’s Loke Yew Hall. The sessions are moderated by Hong Kong businessman and author Sir David Tang.
UK poet Wendy Cope, Hong Kong-based British author Justin Hill and Julia Lovell, who lectures in modern Chinese history and literature at the University of London, will also speak at the fair. Other notable authors include American detective fiction writer Ridley Pearson and Hong Kong’s own Xu Xi. Each will host a public session. Ms Lovell’s latest book, The Opium War, will be launched at the book fair. Local columnist Chip Tsao and publisher Peter Gordon will moderate for select sessions.
Taiwan’s Li Ao and the mainland’s Bi Feiyu, winner of the 2010 Man Asian Literary Prize, are among the authors taking part in the Renowned Writers Series, organised by the HKTDC and Yazhou Zhoukan. An exhibition of the work of Hong Kong author Xi Xi, this year’s Book Fair "Author of the Year," is on display at the fair’s Art Gallery.
International Publishers
Other highlights include English Avenue, with nearly 90 booths and the largest display of English books ever shown at the fair. Several international publishers making their debut include Penguin, HarperCollins, Macmillan and Random House. They are joined by such regional exhibitors as Page One, Metrobooks, Bookazine and Swindon. The International Cultural Village features books from 16 countries and regions while a Copyright Exchange Lounge provides a venue for buyers and exhibitors for copyright negotiation.
Digital Opportunities
“New Opportunities for Digital Publishing” is the theme of the fair’s International Publishing Forum. The 20 July event features speakers from Hong Kong and the mainland. Still with digital publishing, the e-Books and e-Learning Resources zone is 72 per cent larger this year and includes a Future Book Store, allowing fairgoers to customise their own books.
A concurrent fair, Better Living Expo, will be held, 22-24 July, at the AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE). Free shuttle bus service will run between the HKCEC, Tsing Yi, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and AWE.
Fair Website: www.hkbookfair.com/en
Enquiry Hotline: 1830 670
Fair Hours
20-21 July (Wednesday-Thursday) 10am-10pm
22-23 July (Friday-Saturday) 10am-midnight
24-25 July (Sunday-Monday) 10am-10pm
26 July (Tuesday) 9am-5pm
Admission (open to the public; by ticket only)
Adults: HK$25 (includes admission to “Art Gallery”)
Children: HK$10 (for children under 1.22m tall/primary school students)
Morning admission (before noon): HK$10 (tickets for sale at fairground only)
Free admission for children under three and adults over 65
Tourists: HK$10 (must present travel document/visa)
Super Pass: HK$80, offering unlimited entry to the fair; available from now to 19 July
