Record Number of Exhibitors Expected for July Book Fair
Show’s 24th Edition to Feature More Than 400 Cultural Events

25 June 2013 – About 560 exhibitors from more than 25 countries and regions, a new exhibitor record, will take part in the 24th edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, 17-23 July, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The annual fair, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will feature more than 400 cultural events under the theme “Reading the World – Reading for a Better World.” Seven seminar series will also take place, including new spotlights on Hong Kong culture and history and travel and culture, the latter sponsored by Harbour City.

Wild and Flying

A number of high-profile international authors will participate in the fair, including Erica Jong, Jung Chang and William Shawcross. Ms Jong is the author of more than 20 books, including Fear of Flying, which has sold 20 million copies. Ms Chang is best known for Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China; her books have been translated into more than 40 languages. The books of Mr Shawcross include the Queen Mother, the official biography of Queen Elizabeth. The three will address the Open Public Forum, 19 July, moderated by Sir David Tang.

Granta Award Winners
British novelists Joanna Kavenna and Louis de Bernières are also featured speakers. In April, Ms Kavenna, the author of three novels, was named one of the 20 “Best of Young British Novelists” by UK literary magazine Granta. Mr de Bernières, celebrated for his novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, was named to Granta’s once-a-decade list of young British novelists in 1993. Other overseas authors taking part include Durjoy Datta and John Burdett, as well as Hong Kong-based English authors Mark O’Neill and Nury Vittachi. Ira Chaplain, Nicole Chabot and Jason Ng will host a forum, 18 July, on Hong Kong culture.

Renowned Writers 

The Renowned Writers Seminar Series, organised by the HKTDC, Ming Pao and Yazhou Zhoukan, will feature 14 writers from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the United States. They include mainland writer Wang Anyi, author of The Everlasting Regret, Taiwanese poet and painter Xi Murong, and Hong Kong film director Wong Kar-Wai, who will host a seminar on film, literature and martial arts with Taiwanese author Zhang Dachun.

3D Caves
Art Gallery highlights will include “Pure Land: Inside the Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang,” an animated, 3D exhibition featuring a 360-degree panoramic projection theatre. Using virtual reality technology, the exhibition will offer a close-up look at Buddhist wall paintings spanning 1,000 years in the Mogao Caves, a World Heritage site in northwest China. The exhibition is presented by the Book Fair in partnership with City University of Hong Kong’s Applied Laboratory for Interactive Visualization Embodiment, the Dunhuang Academy China and the Friends of Dunhuang (HK), and sponsored by Sun Hung Kai Properties. Seating is limited; online registration – beginning 26 June, 10am, at www.hkbookfair.com/dunhuang/en – is recommended.

Wisely’s 50th Anniversary Exhibition, honouring Hong Kong writer Ni Kuang, author of the enduring science fiction series “Wisely,” will feature book covers, manuscripts and other memorabilia. Mr Ni will lead a seminar along with artist May Hsu and authors Ray Lau and Luo Luo. An exhibition highlighting the achievements of the Book Fair’s “Author of the Year,” Chan Koon Chung, will also be on display at the Art Gallery.

Featured Zones

The fair will present a number of zones, including English Avenue, Teens’ World and e-Books and e-Learning Resources, which will offer a forum on e-reading developments. The HKTDC and 3HK will offer free downloading of more than 160 books. “Storytelling by Celebrities” sessions will be among the highlights of the fair’s biggest Children’s Paradise to date. The International Cultural Village will present the publications of nearly 20 countries, including Greece, Portugal and Turkey, with experts demonstrating Turkish calligraphy and ebru marbling. The Copyright Exchange Lounge will bring buyers together with exhibitors selling copyrights.

Cultural July

Cultural July will take place alongside the Book Fair. The month-long festival begins 25 June and continues through July. Cultural July will feature seminars, author sessions, cultural tours and other activities in venues throughout Hong Kong.

Website: www.hkbookfair.com/en

Fair Hours 

17-18 July (Wednesday-Thursday) 10am-10pm 
19-20 July (Friday-Saturday) 10am-midnight 
21-22 July (Sunday-Monday) 10am-10pm 
23 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

Note: no admission to the fair 45 minutes before the announced daily close time

Articles retrieved from:

http://hkbookfair.hktdc.com/en/Media_PRPage.aspx?id=4465

Caption:

The 24th edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair opens 17 July and continues through 23 July, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Taking part in today’s pre-fair press conference were (left to right): Patrick Sinn, Honorary Secretary, Hong Kong Publishing Federation; Yau Lop Poon, Editor-in-Chief, Yazhou Zhoukan and Hong Kong Book Fair Cultural Events Advisory Panel member; Benjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director, Hong Kong Trade Development Council; and Dr Oliver Chou, Senior Writer (Culture), South China Morning Post, and Hong Kong Book Fair Cultural Events Advisory Panel member