Hong Kong Book Fair 2018

A record number of about 680 exhibitors will present a wide range of books from 37 countries and regions at the 29th edition of the Hong Kong Book Fair.

About 310 cultural events catering to different interests and age groups will also take place during the weeklong fair to raise public cultural awareness and interest in reading.

This year’s theme is “Romance Literature.” The Book Fair Art Gallery, which will be located at the Hall 3 concourse, will showcase a thematic exhibition titled “Love Between the Lines.”

The exhibition will feature famous Hong Kong romance writers in two categories: those who launched their writing careers before the 1990s, including Eileen Chang, Su Xu, Yi Shu, Johnny Yip and Eunice Lam, and those who started during or after the 1990s, namely Zita Law, Lam Wing Sum, Sirena Cheng, Tin Hong and Middle.

The gallery will display rare collections from these 10 writers, including out-of-print novels and manuscripts. Some of these romance authors will share their thoughts and experiences at a series of seminars, while film and theater performance clips of their adapted works will also be showcased.

The book fair will also feature an international lineup of writers sharing their insights at eight seminar series. The writers will include Yu Xiuhua, Zhang Kangkang and A Yi from the Chinese mainland, as well as Lung Ying-tai, Lo Yi-chin, Ji Mi, Lolita Hu, Tsai Chih-heng and Lee Kan from Taiwan, Leo Ou-fan Lee, Li Yuying, Ma Ka-fai and Zhou Jieru from Hong Kong.

A special seminar will be organized to pay tribute to celebrated novelist Liu Yichang, a giant of modern literature in Hong Kong, who passed away recently.

The fair encourages the public to broaden their horizons through books in other languages as well. The English Reading and Creative Writing Seminar Series will feature young adult thriller writer M.A. Bennett from the United Kingdom, Deborah Rogers Writer’s Award winner Sharlene Teo and up-and-coming writer Balli Kaur Jaswal from Singapore. Denise Ho, assistant professor of history at Yale University and veteran Hong Kong journalist and writer Mark O’Neill will also give talks.

Dates: July 18-24

Hours: July 18-19, 22-23, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; July 20-21, 10 a.m.-midnight (Level 1), 10 a.m.-11 p.m. (Level 3); July 24, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Regular tickets: HK$25 (adults), HK$80 (unlimited entries without queuing)

Concessionary tickets: HK$10 (any entry before noon, primary school students, children under 1.22 meters tall); free (children under 3 and seniors over 65); visitors who purchase a regular adult ticket (HK$25) or child ticket (HK$10) dated July 18 or 19 can enjoy one-time free admission July 20, 21 or 22 after 5 p.m.

Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, 1 Harbor Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

MTR: Wan Chai Station (SD News)