Just a few decades ago Hong Kong was known for its popular Chinese literature. Among the most celebrated writers were a trio dubbed the 'Three Miracles': Louis Cha Leung-yung for his tales of kung fu chivalry, Ni Kuang for his sci-fi and adventure stories, and his sister Ni Yishu, for her romantic fiction. Their works continue to be top-sellers in Taiwan, on the mainland and in Chinese communities worldwide, and are often among the 20 most frequently-borrowed books at local libraries.
But literary circles are fretting that Hong Kong has failed to produce a Chinese-language novelist of similar calibre in recent years, with local publishers and readers turning increasingly to celebrity musings.
'There are young people who are very passionate about writing novels,' says Ngan Shun-kau, chief editor at publishers Cosmos Books. 'We constantly receive manuscripts from fledgling writers, but not many have potential. It isn't easy to find good novelists who can write compelling stories these days.'
He says young writers in Hong Kong often lack insight into the human condition and the mastery of language their predecessors developed, attributing this in part to their hectic lifestyle and not reading broadly enough.
'People don't slow down to observe life. A good novel is more than a matter of story-telling; it reflects the writer's vision.'
The chairman of the Hong Kong Book and Magazine Association, Tsang Hip-tai, also blames the sluggish literary scene on an unadventurous reading public. 'Most readers don't want to take a risk; they're unwilling to spend time exploring new writers,' he says. 'Established authors are always the safe bet.'