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Reading has many positive features, such as encouraging people to write, improving their knowledge of society and stimulating thinking about different aspects of life. In a bid to encourage teenagers to read more and improve their lives, various writers will share their personal experiences of writing and reading, as well as their views on the city, family culture, emotional disorder and nature.
This year's Meet-the-Authors talks, organised by the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, is being held at various public libraries from now until November to tie in with the 50th anniversary of the HKPL.
Under the theme "Reading the Life of......", the talks comprise three series, namely: Encounter with Literature: Inheritance and Innovation of Life, Dialogue with Society: Care for and Response to Life, and Living with the World: Reflection and Exploration of Life. The talks are conducted in Cantonese and admission is free.
Six talks will be held from April to June, with speakers including the Associate Professor of Language Centre of the Hong Kong Baptist University, Ms Wu Yin-ching; poet and cultural critic Ms Lok Fung; local journalist Ms Yap Tsz-ching; sociologist Dr Chan Kwok-bun; media worker Ms Chau Yung-yung; and ex-Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr Lam Chiu-ying.
In the series titled Encounter with Literature: Inheritance and Innovation of Life, Ms Wu Yin-ching will speak about how reading poems and novels inspired her to start writing, as well as her future writing plans, on April 21; and Ms Lok Fung will discuss the relationship between films and their respective literary works on May 5.
Many authors write because they want to change society. In the series titled Dialogue with Society: Care for and Response to Life, authors will share their views on how to improve society. In this regard, Ms Yap Tsz-ching will talk about some cases of emotional disorder from her books on May 19, while Dr Chan Kwok-bun will speak on June 30 about relationships and cultural aspects within the family through his own experiences with his parents, wife and children.
Reading, like life itself, is a continuous journey of discovery and progress. In the series titled Living with the World: Reflection and Exploration of Life, on May 12 Ms Chau Yung-yung will talk about her reading and her bicycle trip to Tibet, while on June 2 Mr Lam Chiu-ying will speak about climate change and the exhaustion of natural resources, with a view to enabling readers to better understand the relationship between these factors and lifestyle.
From September to November, the Reporters Without Borders writer Ms Cheung Chui-yung; martial arts fiction writer Jozey; comic artist Mr Lee Chi-ching; cultural critic Mr Perry Lam and Guest Lecturer at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University's School of Design, Ms Chau Yee-mei, will share their views during nine different talks.
Programme details (in Chinese) are available at the HKPL website (www.hkpl.gov.hk/mta) or on posters displayed in the libraries. For enquiries and reservation, please call 2921 2660.
Ends/Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:33
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