The annual Hong Kong Book Fair (HKBF) officially opened on Wednesday. As in previous years, many enthusiasts waited outside the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre in Wan Chai for hours before the doors were opened. They are a living testament that reading books is very much alive and well in Hong Kong despite the rise of digital content and the convenience of online libraries. The organizer of the annual event, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), is very hopeful the 2015 edition will attract even more visitors than the last one, which set a new record of 1.01 million visits.

It should be noted that the HKBF not only attracts individual book lovers from around the region but also provides a handy platform for publishers from around the world to showcase their offerings to the predominantly Chinese readers of arguably the largest consumer market for reading materials on Earth. The fact that the number of mainland tourists in Hong Kong - thanks to the Individual Visit Scheme introduced in 2003 - has been boosting the retail sector like never before is a good enough reason for booksellers to try their luck at the HKBF. Indeed, the book fair has seen numerous mainlanders snatching up all types of books over the years. This is because everyone can find something of interest not available at home.

Hong Kong is such a highly commercially based society that some conservative educationalists have lamented the seemingly dying interest in academic pursuits, as the younger generations have fallen for the allure of business careers. Some of them have even described this bustling free-trade hub as a "cultural desert". While what they say might be true to some extent, their concern is unnecessary - even from a scholarly point of view. The fact is Hong Kong people are always hungry for knowledge just as their mainland compatriots are, no matter where they live. Casual book reading remains the first choice when it comes to learning outside the classroom.

Some observers have also noted the dwindling number of bookstores in Hong Kong in recent years. This is mainly due to rising rents of commercial properties in busy shopping districts. It is another reason why more people are looking forward to the annual HKBF every year. The event, available for just one week a year, is without question the only one-stop solution to their demand for all kinds of reading materials. Maybe the HKTDC should consider holding the popular event twice a year and see how it goes.

Many people have been worried for years that e-books and online reading will eventually render physical books obsolete. But that has not happened, despite the widespread popularity of smartphones and tablet computers. At least in Hong Kong we can safely say book reading is as popular as ever, if not more so.

(HK Edition 07/16/2015 page9)