SHKP taking 1,000-plus underprivileged children to the Hong Kong Book Fair Avid young writers make their debut

17 Jul 2013


The annual Hong Kong Book Fair opened today. Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) is working with St James' Settlement, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and MGuru again this year to stage a sixth Read To Dream programme, taking nearly 1,200 underprivileged children to the book fair and giving them book allowances, as well as putting on reading and creative activities.

SHKP Deputy Managing Director Victor Lui, St James' Settlement Deputy Chief Executive Officer Josephine Lee, Hong Kong Trade Development Council Exhibitions Market Development Director Loretta Wan and celebrity Jerry Lam announced the programme today. Hundreds of SHKP and St James' Settlement volunteers will accompany children to the book fair.

Victor Lui said: "We encourage people to read so they can learn and be informed about the world. We are staging a number of talks, multi-media workshops and exhibitions for students during the book fair to broaden their knowledge and horizons. When they grow up, I hope they will work hard to make our home better for everyone."

The participants range from eight to 15 and are from Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai, Tuen Mun, Kwai Tsing, Wong Tai Sin, Sheung Shui, Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong. Nearly 70% will be visiting the book fair for the first time. Transportation and meals will be provided.

Josephine Lee said: "The SHKP Read To Dream programme is a major summer event and a great opportunity for underprivileged students. We believe reading can enrich knowledge and expand horizons, bringing them hope and a brighter future."

The organizers recently held an "Ideal Hong Kong – My Home" competition to encourage underprivileged students to present their ideal homes in drawing and writing. The winners attended the programme announcement today and shared their visions for Hong Kong, including green living and harmonious personal relationships.

Loretta Wan said: "The Hong Kong Trade Development Council strives to promote a reading culture through the book fair. Books help us better understand different people's views about the world and reading is a way to be exposed to different people, events and thinking. This is important for the younger generation and the first step toward success."

Winners of the fourth Young Writers' Debut Competition also told the students of their creative experience after the announcement and met readers at the Joint Publishing book fair booth. Young Writers' Debut competitions by SHKP and Joint Publishing have helped 33 young authors get their first books in print since they started in 2006.

The 2012/13 winners have different backgrounds such as graphic design, tailoring and legal work, and their works include novels, fairy tales, true stories, travelogues, graphics, photos and screenplays. There were also multi-media elements such as music and QR codes, demonstrating the versatile young writers' observations and imagination about things and the world.

About the SHKP Book Club

SHKP set up the Book Club in 2005 to get people into the habit of reading to broaden their knowledge and horizons and encourage self-improvement and life-long learning. The Club organizes reading-related activities such as book review competitions, Young Writers' Debut competitions, the Books4You magazine, taking children to the book fair, good books polls and public seminars. Visit www.shkpbookclub.com for details.

About St James' Settlement

St James' Settlement is a non-governmental organization established over 60 years ago. It provides comprehensive services to meet the community's diverse needs and promotes self-reliance for a socially integrated, harmonious society. Its target groups include children, teenagers, families, homeless people, mentally-challenged people and the elderly.

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. It has over 40 offices worldwide, 11 of which are on the mainland. It promotes Hong Kong as a business platform for mainland China and Asia. It organizes trade fairs and business delegations to help companies explore trade opportunities in Hong Kong and on the mainland. It also provides the latest trade information through trade magazines, research reports and online. Visit www.hktdc.com for more information.

About MGuru

MGuru is a Hong Kong-based publisher devoted to the promotion of creativity and reading in the community. Founder Kwong Wing-huen is also the editor-in-chief of Books4You magazine, which is a multi-media vehicle with a monthly edition, book review TV show and a new mobile media edition that are very popular among book lovers in Hong Kong, the mainland, Macau and Taiwan.
SHKP taking 1,000-plus underprivileged children to the Hong Kong Book Fair Avid young writers make their debut

17 Jul 2013



The annual Hong Kong Book Fair opened today. Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) is working with St James' Settlement, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and MGuru again this year to stage a sixth Read To Dream programme, taking nearly 1,200 underprivileged children to the book fair and giving them book allowances, as well as putting on reading and creative activities.

SHKP Deputy Managing Director Victor Lui, St James' Settlement Deputy Chief Executive Officer Josephine Lee, Hong Kong Trade Development Council Exhibitions Market Development Director Loretta Wan and celebrity Jerry Lam announced the programme today. Hundreds of SHKP and St James' Settlement volunteers will accompany children to the book fair.

Victor Lui said: "We encourage people to read so they can learn and be informed about the world. We are staging a number of talks, multi-media workshops and exhibitions for students during the book fair to broaden their knowledge and horizons. When they grow up, I hope they will work hard to make our home better for everyone."

The participants range from eight to 15 and are from Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai, Tuen Mun, Kwai Tsing, Wong Tai Sin, Sheung Shui, Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong. Nearly 70% will be visiting the book fair for the first time. Transportation and meals will be provided.

Josephine Lee said: "The SHKP Read To Dream programme is a major summer event and a great opportunity for underprivileged students. We believe reading can enrich knowledge and expand horizons, bringing them hope and a brighter future."

The organizers recently held an "Ideal Hong Kong – My Home" competition to encourage underprivileged students to present their ideal homes in drawing and writing. The winners attended the programme announcement today and shared their visions for Hong Kong, including green living and harmonious personal relationships.

Loretta Wan said: "The Hong Kong Trade Development Council strives to promote a reading culture through the book fair. Books help us better understand different people's views about the world and reading is a way to be exposed to different people, events and thinking. This is important for the younger generation and the first step toward success."

Winners of the fourth Young Writers' Debut Competition also told the students of their creative experience after the announcement and met readers at the Joint Publishing book fair booth. Young Writers' Debut competitions by SHKP and Joint Publishing have helped 33 young authors get their first books in print since they started in 2006.

The 2012/13 winners have different backgrounds such as graphic design, tailoring and legal work, and their works include novels, fairy tales, true stories, travelogues, graphics, photos and screenplays. There were also multi-media elements such as music and QR codes, demonstrating the versatile young writers' observations and imagination about things and the world.

About the SHKP Book Club

SHKP set up the Book Club in 2005 to get people into the habit of reading to broaden their knowledge and horizons and encourage self-improvement and life-long learning. The Club organizes reading-related activities such as book review competitions, Young Writers' Debut competitions, the Books4You magazine, taking children to the book fair, good books polls and public seminars. Visit www.shkpbookclub.com for details.

About St James' Settlement

St James' Settlement is a non-governmental organization established over 60 years ago. It provides comprehensive services to meet the community's diverse needs and promotes self-reliance for a socially integrated, harmonious society. Its target groups include children, teenagers, families, homeless people, mentally-challenged people and the elderly.

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. It has over 40 offices worldwide, 11 of which are on the mainland. It promotes Hong Kong as a business platform for mainland China and Asia. It organizes trade fairs and business delegations to help companies explore trade opportunities in Hong Kong and on the mainland. It also provides the latest trade information through trade magazines, research reports and online. Visit www.hktdc.com for more information.

About MGuru

MGuru is a Hong Kong-based publisher devoted to the promotion of creativity and reading in the community. Founder Kwong Wing-huen is also the editor-in-chief of Books4You magazine, which is a multi-media vehicle with a monthly edition, book review TV show and a new mobile media edition that are very popular among book lovers in Hong Kong, the mainland, Macau and Taiwan.