Hong Kong Book Fair treat gives Tin Shui Wai pupils a rare glimpse of the big city
More than 1,000 pupils made a rare trip to Hong Kong Island to experience the week-long Hong Kong Book Fair, which closes today
Among the crowds enjoying the book fair last week were slightly over a thousand people for whom just being on Hong Kong Island was a treat in itself.
They were pupils from Yuen Long Public Middle School Alumni Association Ying Yip Primary School and some parents from Tin Shui Wai, the remote new town in the northwest New Territories that has become known for its social and economic problems.
The visit to the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai was a rare and welcome opportunity to see the sights, thanks to a programme by the fair’s organiser, the Trade Development Council, the St James’ Settlement charity and developer Sun Hung Kai Properties.
Teacher Poon Ka-fai said: “They rarely get a chance to go so far out into the city. On the bus here we pointed out to students Lai Yuen [the old amusement park that has been temporarily resurrected in Central] and the Ferris wheel. When Occupy was happening, the students weren’t sure where the protests were.”
They said they’ve never seen such a big harbour before
It was the eighth time that low-income pupils had been invited to the book fair. Poon, who has led the trips for three years, said pupils ate their lunch by the windows so they could enjoy the view.