Hong Kong Book Fair’s 760 exhibitors urged to abide by national security law as event returns to city on July 19
- Organisers say they do not have lists of books that could not be displayed because they trust their exhibitors
- Residents attending fair running from July 19 to 25 will have to pay HK$30, up from last year’s HK$25
Hong Kong Book Fair organisers have urged exhibitors to only offer titles that conformed with the national security law, as they expected a huge number of visitors from neighbouring mainland cities in the first post-pandemic show despite an admission fee hike.
The annual week-long fair will run from July 19 to 25 and feature about 760 exhibitors. Admission is HK$30 (US$3.80), up from last year’s HK$25.
The Trade Development Council, which is organising the fair, said the theme this year was children’s and young adult literature, adding it had reminded exhibitors to follow the law when selecting their offerings.
“We do ask our exhibitors to abide by Hong Kong law, and that includes the national security law,” said Sophia Chong Suk-fan, deputy director of the council.
“We do not apply any censorship on any of the publications in the book fair, as long as they belong to [Class] I,” she added, referring to the category of publications that are suitable to be distributed to any age group under the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance.
“We do not have lists of books that could or could not be displayed, as we trust our exhibitors,” Chong said.
She added the council occasionally received complaints about books in the past, which they relayed to the exhibitors. But it was up to them to remove the offending titles, she stressed.
