The 8th Hong Kong Literature Festival, which opened Thursday, will take participants through the development of local literature with creative works of different periods and a diversity of lively activities.

Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, this year's festival, themed "Footprints Along the Way", runs from June 24 to July 11. Most of the events will be held at the Hong Kong Central Library (HKCL).

The range of activities includes a thematic exhibition, symposiums, a series of talks tracing local scenes depicted in Hong Kong literature, interactive programs with renowned writers, guided reading sessions, poetry recitals, dialogues with creators, programs by cultural organizations and film shows.

"We hope that the diverse and multi-faceted programs in the festival will attract more people (and induce them) to take an interest in local literature and reading activities," said Under Secretary for Home Affairs, Florence Hui Hiu-fai, at the opening ceremony.

One of the festival highlights is the thematic exhibition "Footprints Along the Way - A Tribute to Hong Kong Literature", held at the HKCL. It surveys the development of Hong Kong literature through various literary phenomena, from newspaper columns to bookstores and literary activities.

A distinguished panel of writers and scholars from Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong will share their study of Hong Kong literature in the context of its modal changes, interaction with different forms of media and its relationship with cities at symposiums entitled "Between Tradition and Modernity - Changes of Literary Form", "Interdisciplinary Crossover between Literary Fields" and "The Consciousness of City in Literature".

In the new talk series, several pairs of closely bonded writers, including a professor and students, father and son, mother and daughter, as well as sisters, will throw light on how kinship and mentorship help pass on the passion for writing.

In addition, four recipients of the 10th Hong Kong Biennial Awards for Chinese Literature will join critics and scholars to share their experiences in the Guided Reading Session.

In Mid-Summer Poetry Recitals, another feature of the festival, award-winning poets Viki Holmes, Dr Agnes Lam and Arthur Leung, will present their favorite poems and share their ways of experiencing poetry through writing and reading.

As a contributing program at the festival, the Hong Kong Film Archive is presenting the "Look Back at Memories" film series, screening three local films that will take audiences down memory lane to trace Hong Kong cinema in the 1980s and 90s.

A new activity, Fans of Literature Festival, has been launched. Registered participants can receive souvenirs of the festival and updates on the library's future literary activities.

All activities, except the film shows, are free.

China Daily

(HK Edition 06/25/2010 page1)