The Philippines participated on 18-24 July at the Hong Kong Book Fair, the city’s biggest expo in terms of attendance with a million visitors in last year’s edition. The Fair is organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center (HKCEC).
Located at the Book Fair’s International Cultural Village, the Philippine Consulate General booth put up a reading corner featuring Filipino children’s books and books on Philippines-China relations from the Consulate’s Sentro Rizal, as well as cultural materials.
For the first time, the University of the Philippines Press (UP Press), represented by Professor Gerardo T. Los Baños and Ms. Anna Jhorie P. Arciga, are participating in the Consulate booth. Also part of the Philippine representation, the Philippine Educational Publishers’ Association (PEPA) promoted textbooks for use of primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong.
The Fair’s cocktail reception and opening ceremony on 18 July was attended by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor. Consul General Antonio A. Morales, along with other consuls general, publishing industry leaders and other guests also attended the event.
During this visit to the Consulate booth, Consul General Morales underlined that the Book Fair is an excellent platform to promote the Philippines’ literary talent, culture and heritage to the Hong Kong public and the international audience as well.
Under the theme “Reading the World – What on Earth is Love?” and on its 28th edition, this year’s Book Fair features 680 exhibitors from 39 countries and regions, and 310 events. In 2017, the Book Fair accounted for around half the annual sales of the participating booksellers.
Other Consulates General from Switzerland, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Thailand, Bangladesh, Spain, Cambodia, and others, also joined in the Book Fair.
