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The prize presentation ceremony of the "4.23 World Book Day Creative Competition in 2010", with the theme "Cities Today", was held today (April 24) at the Hong Kong Central Library (HKCL).
Through the competition, organised by the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, local students have broadened their reading scope and demonstrated their critical thinking on globalisation and development by expressing their vision of an ideal city with environmental protection, heritage preservation, a balanced ecosystem, efficient transportation, segregation of municipal waste, green energy, and a world of peace with people respecting each other.
The creative competition celebrates "4.23 World Book Day" and ties in with the theme of "Better City, Better Life" of Expo 2010 Shanghai China.
The competition aimed to encourage students to broaden their reading scope and to enhance their understanding and thinking about themselves, society and the world through the process of creation.
The winning students will receive a special gift this year with super passes to Hong Kong Book Fair 2010 presented by the new supporting organisation, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC). The super passes give students free admission to the Hong Kong Book Fair.
Present at the presentation ceremony were the Under Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Florence Hui Hiu-fai; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mrs Betty Fung Ching Suk-yee; and three representatives of the educational bodies that formed the adjudication panel of the competition – the Academic Department Director of the Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, Mr Lam Kwok-kwong; the Vice President of the Hong Kong Teacher-Librarians' Association, Ms Angel Leung Yuet-ha; and the External Secretary of the Hong Kong Reading Association, Mr Ken Chiang Kwun-man. Renowned author Mr Lawrence Pun shared with the awardees his experience in reading and writing.
Promoting reading is one of the major missions of the HKPL. In support of World Book Day, the HKPL has, since 2004, organised diverse extension activities including seminars and competitions to broaden students' reading and develop diversified perspectives.
About 1,000 entries from more than 200 schools were received. The competition, starting from November 2009, consisted of four groups: graphic drawings by junior primary students of their ideal city or showing the city that impresses them most; reports on reading materials related to the ideal city or city life by senior primary students; reports on reading materials related to the phenomenon or issues of city development today by junior secondary students; and essays on one of the three topics – globalisation, public health and energy, technology and environment of cities today – by senior secondary students.
Winning works from the competition will be on display at the Exhibition Gallery of the HKCL from today to May 2. A roving exhibition will be held at 19 public libraries from May 4 to August 31. The winning entries will also be uploaded on the HKPL's website.
Over the past few years, the creative competition has formed part of the Guangdong – Hong Kong library collaboration and exchange programme. Adopting the same theme "Cities Today", the Shenzhen Library and Shenzhen Children's Library had organised a writing competition for adults and students. Part of the winning entries are on display in Hong Kong in 16 public libraries from today to September 30, while Hong Kong's winning entries are now being shown at the two libraries in Shenzhen till the end of May.
A "Meet-the-Author" talk was also held today at the Kowloon Public Library for World Book Day, during which Mr Lawrence Pun shared his travelling and writing experiences.
The TDC will display information on the Art Gallery and Literary Lane of the forthcoming Hong Kong Book Fair together with the winning works of the competition at the Exhibition Gallery of HKCL.
For programme enquiries, please visit the website, www.hkpl.gov.hk , or call 2928 4603 or 2921 2646.
Ends/Saturday, April 24, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:00
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