By John Cairns
(Second of Two Photo Collections)

WAN CHAI, Hong Kong – Already huge, already popular, the 21-year-old Hong Kong Book Fair continues to mature big-time. Before ending on July 27, the week-long annual fair, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, drew 920,000 visitors to buy books from 510 exhibitors at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).

For the first time, the fair offered an abundance of English books presented together in a special section called English Avenue. Previously, this celebration of reading, arguably Hong Kong's most successful regular event, featured nearly all Chinese books. Last year, it attracted 895,000 people.

In another giant stride, the fair presented forums and seminars starring world-famous writers. Among them were Frederick Forsyth, Andrew Roberts, James Fenton and Anthony Horowitz.

One display area highlighted electronic books. Another, the Children's Paradise, full of children's books, lured youngsters and their parents. Many eager readers, unable to wait, immediately began to devour stories right there in the HKCEC, one of Asia's busiest buildings.

Anyone headed to the fair faced delays in serious congestion, even outside the venue. Thousands of Chinese mainlanders attended (in their hometowns, access to good books has its limits). But most of the people stampeding through the doors were locals.

The Hong Kong Book Fair creates a powerful impression that everyone here loves to read. That's untrue, but seeing “the masses” reach so gladly for books excites and encourages every writer, publisher, educator and book-vendor.



Some popular books appeal to yearning teenagers.



Book buddies: reading isn't always done alone.



She loves her literature?



Checking a venue map: where are the best buys?



An exhibitor tallies some of the incoming cash.



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