The 34th HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, 7th HKTDC Sports and Leisure Expo and 4th HKTDC World of Snacks all commence today, running for seven days (17 to 23 July) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the three summer cultural and leisure events offer a diverse range of activities that cater for the whole family. The opening ceremony for the fairs took place this morning, officiated by Raistlin Lau, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, and accompanied by Margaret Fong, HKTDC Executive Director.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms Fong said: “The HKTDC is committed to promoting Hong Kong’s business development and injecting vitality into the Hong Kong economy through organising mega events such as these, solidifying the city’s reputation as the events capital of Asia. This year’s Book Fair, Sports and Leisure Expo and World of Snacks have attracted 760 exhibitors, providing an important promotional and business platform for different industries while allowing visitors to enjoy diverse activities spanning reading, sports, leisure, and snack shopping. This year’s Book Fair, an annual summer cultural event in Hong Kong, will stage more than 600 cultural activities on-site and off-site, inviting over 250 prominent Chinese and foreign-language writers and celebrities to host seminars, promoting literary exchange and connecting book lovers through literature.”
The Book Fair continues to receive funding from the HKSAR Government’s Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency to support featured activities, including the World of Art & Culture, the International Publishing Forum and the debut of the IP Roundtable.
Theme of the year seminar series delves into film and TV literature
This year’s Book Fair, with the theme Film and Television Literature and the tagline “Reading the World: Storytelling from Page to Screen”, focuses on featured writers such as Erica Li, Raymond To, Joyce Chan, Norris Wong, Chiang Hiu Mei and Law Kar. The Art Gallery features two other exhibition zones, namely Featured Directors and Classic Literary Adaptations, introducing selected works by renowned filmmakers such as Wong Kar-wai, Ho Cheuk-tin, Nick Cheuk, Tsui Hark, Ann Hui and Stanley Kwan, as well as paying tribute to literary masters like Yi Shu, Lilian Lee, Jin Yong, Ni Kuang and Eileen Chang.
Featured writers of the year and featured directors are invited to explore the intersection of film, television and literature through the Theme of the Year Seminar Series. Earlier today, Raymond To kicked off the series with his talk on “Transforming Texts into Lines and Dialogues”, while renowned director Stanley Kwan will share his unique perspectives on women, film and literary adaptations on 20 July.
World of Art & Culture promotes cultural exchange
The World of Art & Culture provides booklovers with a multifaceted understanding of literature in film and television from 31 countries and regions. In addition to works from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, it also presents pieces from Argentina, Colombia, the Czech Republic, France, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Spain, Switzerland, Vietnam and more. This year, the World of Art & Culture features two interactive installations. Trailing the Scenes showcases Hong Kong film shooting locations and related literary works on an interactive map, allowing visitors to download relevant images, while the Shifting the Scripts by AI installation enables visitors to input keywords to re-compose classic film scenes using AI, allowing them to experience the creative process.
Furthermore, the World of Art & Culture features a miniature of the Kowloon Walled City. Yuyi, author of the novel City of Darkness that was adapted into the hit film Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, will join the Book Fair in person and host a seminar titled “City of Darkness – From Novel to Film” to share his creative journey.
This year, the Mainland China Publishers Zone at the Book Fair is highlighting Beijing as the thematic city, with the theme Beijing and Hong Kong Weave Dreams Together – Painting a Vibrant Chapter through Literary Splendour. The zone will showcase books and creative products which embody historical and cultural characteristics of Beijing, demonstrating the charm of the nation’s capital through the achievements of its modern development.
Cultivating a reading culture through acclaimed writers
The Book Fair continues to feature the Eight Seminar Series, with authors invited to share and exchange ideas on topics including Renowned Writers, English and International Reading, World of Knowledge, Children and Youth Reading, Hong Kong Cultural and Historical, Lifestyle and Personal Development and Spiritual Growth, in addition to the Theme of the Year series. The Renowned Writers Seminar Series, co-organised with Ming Pao and Yazhou Zhoukan, has invited renowned Chinese-language authors from the mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong to share their creative insights. On 20 July, Jin Yucheng, author of the novel that was adapted into the TV drama Blossoms, will delve into the charismatic Shanghai depicted in his creation. Pioneer of Chinese avant-garde fiction Su Tong will share his creative journey on the same day in a talk titled “The Intersecting Paths of Literature”. Other featured authors include Mao Jian, Zhu Tianyi, Shum Sai-shing, Ng See-yuen, Perry Lam, Ban Yu, Xu Zidong, Chen Chongzheng, Jiao Tong, Shan Weijian, Qiao Ye, Huang Deng, Ge Liang, Lei Chien, Cai Chongda and Ian Huen.
The English and International Reading Seminar Series continues to welcome leading English-language authors from around the world. Today (17 July), British scholar Christopher Cowell, who examines the relationship between architecture and urban cultural history, will discuss urban development in Hong Kong from 1841 to 1849. Tomorrow (18 July), renowned Czech illustrator and animator Galina Miklínová will take the audience into the world of animation and introduce the Oddsockeaters. The Story Sharing by Celebrities session has invited CUHK Medical School Associate Dean Dr Teoh Yuen-chun, renowned pianist Lee Ka-ling and Ngong Ping 360 Managing Director Tung Pui-chuen to offer meaningful parent-child activities.
Sports and Leisure Expo celebrates Olympic spirit
The quadrennial Olympic Games will kick off in Paris next week, and the public can get a head start on the electric atmosphere at the Sports and Leisure Expo. The event has invited star athletes to join sharing sessions, including Hong Kong Men’s Rugby Sevens representative Yiu Kam-shing, former Hong Kong Karatedo and Athletics representative Tong Cheuk-pan, and local ice hockey player Cheung Tsz-ching (who appeared in the TV drama Sparks), to share their ups and downs. The Hong Kong Sports Institute (Booth 5C-C02) has set up an instant photo booth encouraging the public to take pictures with props, which will be used to create a mosaic photo wall to show their support for Hong Kong athletes competing in the Olympics.
The Hong Kong Playground Association (Booth 5C-D02) has introduced a new parent-child zipline experience in the Sports Hub zone this year. Under the guidance of instructors, participants can navigate through various obstacles and glide along a 15-metre-long zipline to enjoy an exhilarating ride.
Maintaining health becomes much easier with technology. Hanlun GeronTech Limited’s (Booth 5C-B25) Tai Chi Robot was designed to cater for the elderly. It simulates the moves of an experienced tai chi master, helping seniors to train their muscles and prevent falls. Additionally, former Hong Kong triathlete Szeto Shiu-yan will share how she uses sports data to analyse her performance and plan her daily training.
The perennially popular Japan Pavilion has expanded once again to reach its biggest scale since the pandemic. The World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai (Booth 5B-E11) is participating this year, introducing the expo theme, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, to visitors. The Japan National Tourism Organization (Booth 5B-D02) is teaming up with 18 Japanese prefectures to showcase the rich traditional culture of Japan, with Hokkaido Prefecture (Booth 5B-E02) introducing its latest travel information via virtual reality experiences and photo spots. The Ainu Indigenous Culture Experience zone highlights the Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park.
The Sports and Leisure Expo is hosting nearly 60 exciting events and performances, including a local illustrator sharing session, an introduction to emerging musical instruments, a Speed Stacks Tournament and a Rhythmic Gymnastics Dance Performance, blending thrills, education and entertainment for the benefits of visitors.
World of Snacks offers comprehensive insights into global treats
This year’s World of Snacks has brought together more than 1,200 different snacks, divided into six zones – Travel Delights, Chocolate and Sweet Factory, Oldie Snacks, Yummy & Healthy, Party Time and Snack Bar – to present visitors with a variety of classic flavours, healthy options and taste sensations from across the globe.
Making its debut at the event, Nestlé (Booth 5B-B02) has launched new ice cream flavours and is offering special promotions, including a buy-one-get-one-free offer on ice cream cups or scoops, redeemable with any purchase receipt from the Book Fair or Sports and Leisure Expo. Additionally, a series of snack-related activities are being organised for visitors, such as the Natural Honey and Sesame Cake Making workshop and Mindfulness Coffee workshop.
Tickets for the Hong Kong Book Fair, Sports and Leisure Expo and World of Snacks can be purchased through e-payment sponsor BoC Pay, other ticketing partners including Alipay HK, Alipay, 01 Space and Octopus, or at convenience stores around Hong Kong. A single ticket grants access to all three events. The adult ticket price remains at HK$30. Children aged 0-3 and adults aged 65 or above are admitted free of charge. Visitors who enter before 12 noon and pay with their Octopus card enjoy a discounted entry fee of HK$10. The HKTDC also offers a re-entry promotion to those who purchase full-price tickets for the first two days. Physical ticket sales are not available on-site at the Book Fair – visitors can pay with AlipayHK, Alipay or Octopus at the entrance.
