Michael de Waal-Montgomery

    montymike@gmail.com

    THE 24th Hong Kong Book Fair set a record this year with 560 exhibitors from more than 25 countries and regions, an increase of about 5 percent from last year’s number of exhibitors.

    The fair began July 17 and ended Tuesday. About 300 literary luminaries gave talks, including a number of high-profile local and international authors, and over 400 cultural events were offered to the public. The fair’s theme was: “Reading the World — Reading for a Better World.”

    More than a million visitors were expected to attend the annual reading event this year, according to fair organizer Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

    A handful of Shenzhen-based publishers and publishing-related companies got involved, too.

    Wang Dajun, market department manager in a Shenzhen office for China National Publications, said his company has taken part in the event for the past five years.

    “Altogether we have 24 stalls set up. The most important thing we are trying to do here is increase the promotion of Chinese culture and literature to the overseas market,” Wang told Shenzhen Daily last weekend.

    “Sales at this year’s event have been very good so far,” he said, echoing sentiments from a large number of publishers who reported strong first-day visitor numbers and interest.

    Wang added that the international nature of the Hong Kong Book Fair makes it the perfect venue to not only boost sales but also raise awareness of writers from Shenzhen and other parts of the Chinese mainland.

    Other Shenzhen companies with a presence at this year’s book fair included Shenzhen Publication & Distribution (Group) Co., Shenzhen Book Culture Communication Co., Shenzhen Jiumei Cultural Development Co., Shenzhen Lang Lang Trading Co., Shenzhen Qinziyue Education Technology Co., and Shenzhen Babycool Culture Co.

    A collection of books or “works of excellence” by famous writers in Shenzhen was showcased this year as part of an ongoing series that has been running since 2008.

    Popular Chinese mainland authors who attended the fair included Wang Anyi, Liang Xiaosheng, Wu Jiaxiang and Anyiru. The fair also featured Xi Murong, Wang Chang-cung and Lin Jun-ying from Taiwan, and Leo Lee and Lam Chin-chown from Hong Kong.

    The forums were wide-ranging. On Friday, for example, Hong Kong businessman and socialite Sir David Tang, best known as the founder of the Shanghai Tang fashion chain, moderated an open forum that discussed the question of “How and what and why do writers write?”

    Several other seminars featuring renowned English-language authors speaking on a variety of themes were held through Monday.

    The major exhibition categories were Books and Publications, Children’s and Teen’s Books, Religious Books, E-Book & E-Learning Resources, Multimedia Products, Stationary and Printed Products.

    More information, news and exhibitor details on the 24th Hong Kong Book Fair can be found at hkbookfair.hktdc.com.