(openPR) - Frankfurt am Main/6 October 2010/The Hong Kong pavilion organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair gives an insight into Hong Kong’s vibrant literary scene. Six publishing companies from the megacity will present their broad spectrum of modern literature and non-fiction books as well as learning materials and digital books in Hall 6.0, stand E944. Visitors can also gain an insight of book displays from six other publishing companies. A total of 15 exhibitors from the Special Administrative Region will take part at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2010, held from 6 to 10 October. The fair attracts publishers, authors, agencies, translators, illustrators and literature fans to the Main metropolis.

Hong Kong continues to be the literature hub in Asia

Hong Kong’s dynamic and open literary scene attracts many people in Asia. This could be demonstrated by the HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair in July 2010, which attracted close to one million visitors. Literature fans from Europe and the USA can also find interesting literature in Hong Kong, as the majority of it is mainly published in English. The publishing companies Faktor Hong Kong Ltd., Handheld Culture Ltd., Hong Kong University Press, Hung Hing Off-Set Printing Co. Ltd., Ka Luen Overseas Industrial Ltd. and Keen High Holding (HK) Ltd. show a representative width at the Book Fair in Frankfurt.

Whether comics, crime thrillers or travel guides: Handheld Culture Ltd. produces digital tools for various platforms and mobile devices. Furthermore, the publisher supports authors and publishing companies to digitalise their contents and convert them into the conventional data format. The texts can then be downloaded from numerous online platforms and app stores (Apple, iTunes, Android, Nokia Ovi).

The Hong Kong University Press mainly publishes in English and plays an important role in the international scientific exchange of the megacity. The libraries of the Hong Kong University (HKU) und the publishing group Springer have recently signed an Open-Access-Agreement. In this way researchers at the HKU can publish their research work in the Springer specialist magazines and online forums.

Panorama Children’s Books and 3D Puzzles

Hung Hing Off-Set Printing Co. Ltd. founded in 1950 as a small publishing company in Hong Kong has for the past 60 years developed into one of the largest printing companies in Asia. In addition to the headquarters in Hong Kong, there are 15,000 employees working on mainland China in five production facilities. Production includes pop-up children books with complex folding technology, high end packaging products and post cards.

Ka Luen Overseas Industrial Ltd. offers 3D books and puzzles. The company has also launched a new special manufacturing technology that uses conductive fibres for various lighting motives.

eBook-Readers und E-Books from Keen High Holding (HK) Ltd. round up the spectrum on the pavilion. Over 200 of the company’s employees work in research and development and ensure that the latest developments are launched within short period on the market.

From January to August 2010 Hong Kong´s worldwide export of printed matter including books, postcards and related products amounted to US$ 1.5 billion, an increase of 9.1%. The megacity also recorded a growth of 9% to US$ 1.02 billion in its import.

The HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, which is increasingly becoming popular, is ranked as one of the largest literature events in Asia. 270 cultural events attended by 90 writers complemented alone the 2010 edition. The 22nd edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair will be held from 20 to 26 July 2011.

A statutory body established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. With more than 40 global offices, including 11 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises trade fairs and business missions to connect companies with opportunities in Hong Kong and on the mainland, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and online.

Contact for editorial:
Christiane Koesling, HKTDC
Kreuzerhohl 5-7
60439 Frankfurt, Germany
Tel: +49 (0)69 - 9 57 72 - 161
Fax: +49 (0)69 - 9 57 72 - 200
E-mail: christiane.koesling@hktdc.org