The Greater Bay Area Bookstore Reading Parade kicked off as the event’s first stop at the Plaza Cultural Macau Bookstore on Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida (荷蘭園大馬路) on Saturday, with the aim of promoting cultural integration among the 11 cities of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), and publicising the “excellent characteristics of the GBA culture”, the bookshops’ General Manager Chan U Ion announced at the event’s opening ceremony.
During the opening ceremony, Chan said the fact that the Hong Kong organisers chose Macau as the first stop of the bookfair marked a new level of cultural exchange and integration, as well as the promotion of the publishing and printing industries in Hong Kong and Macau and the other nine GBA cities in Guangdong Province.
“Not only should we pursue economic growth in the GBA, but we should also promote and explore, and even create, a distinctive culture, in order to develop the true strength of the GBA in the new era,” Chan noted.
According to a statement by the co-organisers, the ongoing 18-day event is organised by Hong Kong Publishing Federation and the Hong Kong Printers Association, showcasing a selection comprising thousands of Hong Kong’s latest book titles. The exhibits cover literature, history and philosophy, while the leisure categories include foodstuff and beverages, comics, children’s books, travel, new science fiction, as well as cultural and creative works by Hong Kong artists.
“Soaring Creativity – Hong Kong Pavilion 2024” Organising Committee Chairwoman Terri Chan Kim Man said in a speech during the ceremony that the event aims to explore business opportunities in other cities in the GBA, “as the first stop of the event is being held in Macau, where Hong Kong bestsellers are displayed and sold at the same venue, we hope to promote Hong Kong’s publishing and printing industries.”
Talking to the Post on Saturday, Chan pointed out the difficulties in promoting the reading of physical books to young people, “but we believe that young people attach great importance to their own growth, so we will organise activities at the event to enable readers to communicate with authors, and we hope to bring readers the latest books from Hong Kong and Macau through the bookfair every year.”
Chan added that “unlike reading on a mobile phone, reading a book takes time and needs focus, so we will continue to promote physical books, but at the same time, we will also promote them on various online channels, so that readers can read both online and offline.”
“The Greater Bay Area Bookstore Reading Parade” series of activities will be held from this month to January at bookstores in Zhongshan, Foshan and Dongguan after its Macau debut, focusing on the display and sale of a wide range of Hong Kong’s best-selling books.
Until October 22, a 20 percent discount will be offered on all Hong Kong edition books at the Plaza Cultural Macau Bookstore.
This photo taken on Saturday at the Plaza Cultural Macau Bookstore on Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida (荷蘭園大馬路) shows the ongoing “The Greater Bay Area Bookstore Reading Parade - Macao Stop” bookfair.
Books that are not for sale are displayed at the bookfair as well. – Photos: Maria Cheang Ut Meng
