The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin (HKETO Berlin) has showcased Hong Kong's flourishing literature scene at the Hong Kong Literature Days on September 14 and 15 at China Time Hamburg in Germany. Hosted by the Senate Chancellery of Hamburg and running this year from September 1 to 23, China Time Hamburg is a biennial series of China-related events providing insights into contemporary and traditional Chinese life through exhibitions, concerts, lectures, discussions, readings, theatre, films and culinary specialties.
In his welcome remarks on September 14 (Hamburg time), the Director of HKETO Berlin, Mr Bill Li, referred to Hong Kong's diversity and vibrant cultural scene. "As Asia's world city, Hong Kong has always been a melting pot of cultures and is developing into a global creative hub. Hong Kong people have proven talent in reflecting their lives in a creative way through film or music, theatre or dance, literature or culinary specialties, as you can experience at China Time Hamburg,” he said.
Through public readings, a podium discussion session and a film screening event, the Hong Kong Literature Days brought to attention the voices of two well-known contemporary writers from Hong Kong, Sharon Chung and Dr Ma Ka-fai.
Sharon Chung published her first novel, "Tingche zan jiewen" ("A Carriage Stopped By"), in 1981. In 2002, this love story was turned into a film. Chung holds a degree from the University of Michigan's institute of film and is also the author of short stories and poetry. Furthermore she has worked as a translator and screenwriter.
Dr Ma Ka-fai worked in the fields of advertising and film and is now teaching media and creative writing at the City University of Hong Kong. He wrote his first novel, "Long tou feng wei" ("Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong"), at the age of 51, after having published many scientific texts and pieces of reportage literature. The prize-winning novel was published in 2016 and tells the story of a young gangster in Hong Kong.
The rising importance of cultural life in Hong Kong is underlined by a growing number of globally recognised events including Art Basel Hong Kong and new development projects such as the 40-hectare West Kowloon Cultural District and Tai Kwun, a centre for heritage and arts where the Hong Kong International Literary Festival will be held from November 2 to 11 this year.
About HKETO Berlin
HKETO Berlin is the official Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Germany as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.
Follow this news feed: East Asia