The 36th Hong Kong Book Fair, the 9th Sports and Leisure Expo, and the 6th World of Snacks all opened today, July 15, and will run concurrently through July 21 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the three events together feature over 770 exhibitors, offering a single-ticket experience that combines reading, sports, leisure, and global snacks.
At the opening ceremony, Cheuk Wing-hing, Acting Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government, officiated and delivered the opening address. Professor Frederick Ma, HKTDC Chairman, noted that the Book Fair is one of Asia's most influential cultural events and a platform for cultural exchange. This year's theme, 'Reading the World: Cultural Legacy | Joyful Journeys,' aims to inspire readers to explore global history, culture, and lifestyles through books.
The Book Fair features eight seminar series, including the Theme of the Year and Renowned Writers series. Highlights include a talk by Cheng Po-hung on Hong Kong's tourist attractions (July 15), Xu Zidong on Chinese modern literature (July 18), and Law Kar-ying on Cantonese opera (July 19). The English and International Reading series features British poet Luke Kennard (July 16) and Swedish fantasy novelist Kristina Dowling (July 18). The inaugural ASEAN Literary Festival, in collaboration with the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation, includes Indonesian novelist Eka Kurniawan and Singaporean author Clarissa Goenawan (July 18).
The World of Art & Culture exhibition, 'World in Words, A Voyage of the Heart,' showcases over 200 books and exhibits, with interactive installations recommending travel itineraries based on reading preferences. More than 35 events are scheduled. Chinese Mainland publishers present about 20,000 publications, with Yunnan as the featured province, highlighting its ethnic cultures and tourism resources. The Guangdong Publishing Pavilion includes a 'Qiaopi Cultural Zone' on Chaoshan's emigrant heritage.
The Sports and Leisure Expo features the Hong Kong Sports Institute's 35th anniversary exhibition, showcasing medals from past Asian Games and an interactive fitness challenge. Now TV broadcasts major sporting events on large screens. New participants include Turkiye and Korea, showcasing mosaic lamps, sand coffee, and Korean pop culture. Thailand returns with a larger pavilion offering authentic Thai massages from July 15 to 18.
The World of Snacks brings together over 1,300 snacks from nearly 30 countries across six zones. Highlights include locally handmade nut butter ice cream from The Nutter Company, healthy snacks from Azure Asia, and traditional pastries from TimeTo Gold, which employs senior women. Interactive activities include black sesame roll making (July 16) and a Junior Sommelier Workshop (July 17).
Tickets are HK$30 for adults and HK$10 for children, with concessions for tourists (HK$20) and persons with disabilities (HK$10). Morning admission (before noon) is HK$10 via Octopus. A Super Pass (HK$88) offers unlimited entry. Re-entry promotions are available for tickets dated July 15 or 16. For details, visit the Sports and Leisure Expo website or World of Snacks website.
