Hong Kong Book Fair exhibitors, health expert call for annual event to be postponed or suspended, citing Covid-19 infection concerns
- The organiser of the seven-day book fair, which starts on 15 July, said on Thursday that it would press ahead with the annual event
- The Hong Kong Trade Development Council also said it would monitor developments and stay in close contact with the health authorities
More than 50 Hong Kong Book Fair exhibitors and a health expert on Friday have urged the postponement or suspension of the annual event, which is scheduled to open next Wednesday, citing concerns over a new wave of Covid-19 infections.
Their remarks came a day after the government tightened social-distancing rules as the new local cases hit 85 over the past three days, including 21 with unknown sources of infection.
But the organiser of the annual event, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, said on Thursday that it would press ahead with the book fair in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, to be held from 15 to 21 July. Last year’s edition attracted 980,000 visitors over its seven-day run.
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The decision to press ahead with the fair is understood to be a collective decision of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and other relevant government departments.
Chinese University’s Dr David Hui Shu-cheong, a member of the government’s expert committee on public health, said on a radio programme on Friday morning that cancelling the exhibition would be an “ideal move” amid the sudden outbreak. Otherwise, the organiser should control the number of visitors to avoid crowds gathering and request them to wear a face mask in the venue.
The Book Fair Concern Group, which represents more than 50 booksellers and publishers, or roughly 10 per cent of the 585 participants expected to join this year’s event, issued a statement saying that given the curbs introduced by the government and the closing down of schools as precautionary measures, the authorities should also consider postponing the book fair.
“Out of the concerns of public health and industry’s interest, we worried if the event will go ahead,” the statement read.
“The authority should consider postponing the event without altering the subsidy to the industry and we hoped to be notified the decision as soon as possible.”
The group said the organisers of many book fairs around the world, such as in Taipei and Germany, have already decided to postpone or reschedule their events because of the pandemic.
Pro-Beijing lawmaker Chan Hoi-yan questioned in a Legco meeting on Friday why the book fair was allowed to be go ahead while classes have been suspended.
Chan said that with schools being allowed to shut early, there were concerns that some parents would take their children to the book fair, and that restrictions of only allowing the organisers to fill the venue to up to 60 per cent of capacity could not effectively prevent another outbreak emerging from the event.
Health minister Sophia Chan Siu-chee said the organisers would take the appropriate health measures.
Hong Kong confirmed 38 new cases on Friday, with 32 local infections among them. Friday’s numbers add to the 34 local cases reported on Thursday and 19 on Wednesday. The city’s overall tally now stands at 1,403 cases.
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In response, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reiterated that it would monitor developments and stay in close contact with the health authorities. It would take appropriate measures during the event, including checking the temperature of visitors and sanitising the venue regularly.
The number of exhibitors expected to join the fair’s 2020 edition has dipped by about 15 per cent, to 585 participants from last year’s 686. This year’s theme, “Words to Warm the Heart”, focuses on motivational and inspirational reading.
