Education Bureau Circular Memorandum No. 76/2007 (Formerly referred as EMB Circular Memorandum No. 76/2007) From: Secretary for Education and Manpower To: Heads of all Primary and Secondary Schools Ref: EN/6029/3/RS Date: 27 June 2007

Hong Kong Fair 2007 {Note: This circular memorandum should be read by Heads of all primary and secondary schools – for necessary action}

Summary The purpose of this circular memorandum is to encourage students, teachers and parents to visit the “Hong Kong Book Fair 2007” to browse through a wide range of resources, identify quality and materials, and participate in various reading promotion activities.

Details 2. “Reading to Learn” is one of the key tasks for promoting life-long learning in the education reform. Schools are encouraged to cultivate a reading habit among their students by encouraging them to participate in various reading activities during the summer holiday.

3. The “Hong Kong Book Fair”, which has entered its 18th year, will be held from 18th to 24th July 2007 (Wednesday to Tuesday) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in . Schools are requested to encourage students, teachers and parents to visit the Hong Kong Book Fair.

4. Hong Kong Education City will set up a booth (No.5M19 at Hall 5) in the Book Fair to display online reading information. To encourage a “read-and-share” culture, a book exchange corner will be set up. Participants can exchange their book, together with their comments on the book, for another book. Hong Kong Education City will also organise an English reading seminar on 22nd July 2007. The seminar aims to provide insights for parents into how they can nurture children’s interest in reading in English with the use of storybooks, props and teaching kits through demonstration by professional English trainers.

5. To arouse the public’s interest in reading, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) has also organised a series of events during the Book Fair. Special discounts will be offered to schools for bulk ticket purchase and a special entrance will be arranged for school group visits. For relevant information, please refer to Appendix 1.

6. For further details of the “Hong Kong Book Fair 2007”, please visit the relevant website at http://www.hkbookfair.com. For enquiries, please contact Mr Joseph KO or Ms Vinky HO of the Exhibitions Department of TDC by phone at 2240 4357 / 2240 4245 or by email at [email protected].

Chris WARDLAW for Secretary for Education and Manpower c.c. Heads of Sections – for information

Appendix 1

Hong Kong Book Fair 2007

1. "Renowned Writers Seminar Series " The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) and Yazhou Zhoukan (亞洲週刊) will join hands to hold the "Renowned Writers Seminar Series". Famous writers from Greater China and Southeast Asia, including Mr NI Kuang (倪匡先生), Ms TSE Hiu Hung (謝曉虹女士), Ms CHENG Fung (鄭丰女士), Mr TUNG Kai Cheung (董啓章先 生), Mr SUN Lung Kee (孫隆基先生), Ms YU Dan (于丹女士), Mr YI Zhong Tian (易 中天先生), Mr MO Yan (莫言先生), Ms ZHANG Yue Ran (張悅然女士), Ms CHUN Shu (春樹女士), Professor LUNG Ying Tai (龍應台教授), Mr LO Yi Chin (駱以軍先 生), Ms HU Shu Wen (胡淑雯女士), Ms LEONG Ching Foon (梁靖芬女士) and Mr YENG Pway Ngon (英培安先生) have been invited to share their experience in writing. The seminar series are suitable for both secondary and primary school students.

2. Seminar on “Reading Culture in Greater China” The TDC and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council will jointly organise a seminar on reading culture in Greater China. Ms CHAU Mat Mat (周密密女士), a Hong Kong renowned writer, Ms TIE Ning (鐵凝女士), the Chairman of the Chinese Writers’ Association, and Professor ZHANG Xiao Feng (張曉風教授) from the General Education Centre of National Yang Ming University (國立陽明大學通識教育中心), have been invited to talk about the reading culture in Greater China.

3. “Story-telling by Celebrities” Sessions The “Story-telling by Celebrities” Sessions will be held again at the “Children’s Paradise”. Renowned figures, including Mrs FAN HSU Lai Tai, GBS, JP (范徐麗泰太平 紳士), Ms CHAN Yuen Han, JP (陳婉嫻太平紳士), Ms CHOY So Yuk, JP (蔡素玉太平 紳士), Ms LAU Wai Hing, JP (劉慧卿太平紳士), Dr TSE Wing Ling, MH (謝永齡博士), Ms EU Yuet Mee, JP (余若薇太平紳士), Mr SHEK Kang Chuen (石鏡泉先生), Dr CHOI Yuen Wan (蔡元雲醫生), Mr Gill Mohindepaul SINGH (喬寶寶先生), Dr Angela LUK (陸趙鈞鴻博士), Ms Blanche TANG (鄧藹霖女士), Mrs YIM NG Seen Ha (嚴吳 嬋霞女士) and Ms SUEN Wai Ling (孫慧玲女士) have been invited to tell stories to children.

4. Seminars on “Entrepreneur and Reading” and “Science Fiction” The TDC and Hong Kong Economic Times will work together and run a seminar on “Entrepreneur and Reading”, in which Dr CHIANG Chen (蔣震博士) will share his thoughts about reading. Moreover, a seminar on “Science Fiction”, co-organised by the TDC and Ming Pao Century Page, will also be held. Mr NI Kuang (倪匡先生) and Mr ZHAN Hong Zhi (詹宏志先生) have been invited to share their experience in writing science fiction on this occasion.

5. Teen Reading As part of the Solar Project 2007, “Teen Reading”, co-organised by the TDC and the RTHK, will be held to provide opportunities for renowned writers to share their writing experience with teenagers. This year, Mr Louis CHA (查良鏞先生) and Mr NI Kuang (倪 匡先生) have been invited to share their experience in writing with young people.

6. Special Arrangements for Schools - Special Entrance for Group Visits A special entrance will be arranged for group visits by schools with a minimum of 20 participants. To enjoy this privilege, advance registration at the TDC website (http://www.hkbookfair.com) is required.

- Special Ticket Discount Three complimentary tickets will be offered to teachers or escorts of each school making group visits to the Book Fair. Schools are offered a 50% discount on admission fee for group purchase of over 30 tickets, i.e. $12 for adults and $5 for children (applicable to primary school students or children under 4 feet or 1.22m tall).

7. Book Delivery Service Book delivery service, to be provided by Hong Kong Post, will be available at Booth Numbers 2G 20 & 22 in the Book Fair.

8. Enquiries For details, please visit the website of Hong Kong Book Fair 2007 at http://www.hkbookfair.com. For enquires, please contact Mr Joseph KO or Ms Vinky HO of the Exhibitions Department of TDC by phone at 2240 4357 / 2240 4245 or by email at [email protected].