Mainland Chinese visitors to make Hong Kong Book Fair a bestselling event, organiser says
- Event organiser ‘confident’ following roadshows in Guangzhou and Shenzhen as well as positive response on social media platform Xiaohongshu
The organiser of the 2024 Hong Kong Book Fair has expressed confidence that this year’s turnout will be strong, with visitors from mainland China set to bolster attendance numbers.
The 34th edition of the annual book fair will kick off on Wednesday and last until July 23 at Wan Chai’s Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre under the theme of Film and Television Literature.
Sophia Chong Suk-fan, deputy executive director of fair organiser the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, said she felt “confident” following efforts to publicise the event on the mainland.
“We also did some roadshows in Guangzhou and Shenzhen to raise publicity for the event, and the feedback we’ve seen on Xiaohongshu has been very supportive of the writers we chose to promote,” she said, referring to Chinese Instagram-like social media platform.
“Of course, there are many factors to consider, such as the weather, especially since it is typhoon season.”
She noted the forecast was clear and wet weather arrangements had been made so visitors lining up outdoors would mostly be covered by marquees.