Latest news with #Bbluesky
HKFP
23-07-2025
- Business
- HKFP
Lower turnout at Hong Kong Book Fair after Typhoon Wipha hit city
Around 890,000 people visited the Hong Kong Book Fair this year – a 10 per cent drop from last year's event, the organiser has said. In comparison, the book fair attracted 990,000 visitors last year. The Hong Kong Book Fair 2025, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai from Wednesday to Tuesday, was forced to close on Sunday due to Typhoon Wipha. Afterwards, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), which organises the annual fair, extended the opening hours on Monday. The organiser tried to put a positive spin on the lower turnout. 'Although the passage of the typhoon forced a full-day closure on Sunday, the three exhibitions still attracted 890,000 visits,' the HKTDC said in a statement on Tuesday. Visitors from mainland China, Japan, and Southeast Asia attended the book fair, the organiser also said. More than 860 visitors who took part in a survey commissioned by the HKTDC spent an average of HK$918, showing a slight increase from last year despite the typhoon-induced closure on Sunday, according to the HKTDC statement. One exhibitor was quoted as saying that the first three days exceeded projections by 30 per cent. However, local media reported that booksellers saw lower sales this year by around 10 to 20 per cent compared with last year. Some also said fewer people visited the fair on Monday than in the first few days. At least three independent publishers were barred from participating in the 2025 book fair. Two of them, Bbluesky and Boundary Bookstore, were ordered by the HKTDC to remove certain titles from their shelves last year.
The Star
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Hong Kong publishers join independent book fair after govt block
Visitors browse books at the unofficial Hong Kong Independent Book Fair, an alternative to the city's annual official fair, at Hunter Bookstore in Hong Kong on July 17. Photo: AFP More than a dozen independent Hong Kong publishers, some of whom had been barred from a government-run book fair, took part in a separate literary festival on Thursday for books primarily on social issues. Authorities have clamped down on publications allowed at the annual Hong Kong Book Fair, one of the largest in Asia, since a national security law was imposed on the city in 2020 by Beijing. The alternative festival, held at Hunter Bookstore, promoted publications covering issues including minority groups, the LGBTQ community and the city's wide wealth gap. "The biggest difference for us (from the government-run fair) is that we have no censorship," bookstore owner Leticia Wong told reporters. At least two publishers in attendance had removed books from their booths at last year's Hong Kong Book Fair, after officials said they contained "sensitive content". Books on display at the unofficial Hong Kong Independent Book Fair at Hunter Bookstore. Photo: AFP The books included a travel book by journalist Allan Au, who was arrested in 2022 for allegedly conspiring to publish "seditious materials". The publisher's application to take part in this year's book fair was rejected without explanation. 'No censorship' Beijing imposed its national security law on Hong Kong following huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019, and critics say the law has crushed the city's once-vibrant civil society. A survey of 19 independent publishers in Hong Kong released last Sunday found their freedom of expression had been undermined by the national security law, and most relied on independent bookstores to distribute their works. "I can see that the government is becoming more and more selective in exhibitors," said Lee, a 22-year-old university student who refused to give his full name for safety reasons. The independent fair at Hunter Bookstore offered more options, he added. Independent publisher Leslie Ng (centre) speaks to journalists at Hunter Bookstore, where the unofficial Hong Kong Independent Book Fair is being held. Photo: AFP Leslie Ng, an editor for Bbluesky - a publisher barred from this year's Hong Kong Book Fair - said the government-run festival used to be diverse and supportive of publishers, but that had changed. The biggest challenge publishers face now, he said, is the lack in freedom of speech. "We are always thinking about whether or not we will break the law" when editing books, said Ng. "The red line is very blurry, and we are so scared as we don't know where it is." Hunter Bookstore's Wong believes her fair showcases the "unique landscape" of Hong Kong's publishing scene. "Book fairs are not supposed to be censored, and independent publishing deserves more attention," she said. "Book-lovers and those who care about freedom of publication, reading and writing should treasure this value." - AFP
HKFP
12-05-2025
- Business
- HKFP
3 independent publishers barred from participating in Hong Kong Book Fair
Three independent local publishers, including Bbluesky and Boundary Bookstore, have confirmed to HKFP that they have been barred from participating in this year's Hong Kong Book Fair. Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Hong Kong Book Fair 2025 is scheduled to take place from July 16 to 22 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Leslie Ng, editor-in-chief of Bbluesky, told HKFP on Monday morning that the publishing company in January applied to join the book fair but the HKTDC sent them an email and a letter later that month, informing them of the rejection without any explanation. 'We participated in the book fair in the hope of reaching out to the general public, most of whom might not have the habit of visiting independent bookstores,' Ng said in Cantonese. 'This year, we lost an opportunity to meet readers who haven't heard of us before.' Leanne Liu, manager of Boundary Bookstore, told HKFP on Monday morning that the publishing firm was also prohibited from participating in the large-scale book fair. In a letter Liu showed to HKFP, the HKDTC said the publisher's application to join the event 'was not accepted.' The HKTDC did not provide reasons for the rejection, Liu said. Another publisher also told HKFP that their application to join the book fair was rejected. The publisher did not want to disclose its name. In response to HKFP's enquiry, the HKTDC said, 'In organising any event, it is not uncommon that some applications may not be successful. We do not comment on individual cases.' Warning from HKTDC Founded in 1990, the Hong Kong Book Fair is the city's largest fair showcasing a wide range of publishers and titles. During the book fair last year, the HKTDC asked Bbluesky and Boundary to remove certain titles from their shelves. Liu of Boundary Bookstore told HKFP in July that HKTDC staff informed the publisher that four titles should not be on sale at its booth, citing 'complaints.' The four titles included The Last Faith by Hong Kong veteran reporter Allan Au; a new novel written by Liu Wai-tong, a local poet; a collection of stories about Hong Kong children who emigrated; and novelist Leung Lee-chi's Everyday Movement. Liu said that if they were to take part in the book fair this year, Boundary Bookstore would not showcase the four titles again. Established in 2000, Bbluesky publishes a variety of titles including picture books for children, as well as works on community development, social changes and politics. It previously participated in the book fair every year from 2020 to 2024. Ng of Bbluesky told HKFP in July that they were asked to remove five titles from their booth at the book fair, including three written by Au – Turbulence, a travelogue; The Last Faith, which discusses media ethics; and 2047 Nights, a collection of essays. The remaining two were books by the late former pro-democracy lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun, both of which recounted his time in prison five years ago. Bbluesky eventually pulled four of the titles from its shelves but left veteran journalist Au's Turbulence, saying that the book contained no sensitive content. 'We were informed by HKTDC staff verbally last year that failure to follow the rules of the book fair would negatively impact our application to participate in the event this year,' Ng said on Monday. 'Therefore, we have been mentally prepared that we won't be allowed to participate this year.'
