Academics are expecting exiled Chinese Nobel Laureate Gao Xingjian's three-day Hong Kong visit to generate a wave of interest in his works among university and secondary students, but warn against expecting any long-term impact on students' reading culture.
'We should not over-estimate the impact Gao has had on local students,' said Hong Kong Institute of Education Chinese department lecturer Soon Ailing.
'Students will not adopt a writing or reading habit right away, but at least some will be motivated by Gao's arrival to pick up his works. Although the impact might not be sustained, it is a good start for the development of Chinese literature.'
City University professor and Chinese Civilisation Centre director Cheng Peikai agreed with Dr Soon, but believed Gao's visit would change some attitudes towards writing novels.
'Gao said it was writing, not publishing, that counted for literature,' he said. The effort Gao put into Soul Mountain should be an inspiration, Professor Cheng said. 'Gao's experience will convey an important message to authors, and younger people who are thinking about becoming writers, that hard work accounts for success,' he said.
Gao gave lectures at CUHK and CityU this week, with university and secondary students comprising a large part of the 2,000-plus audience.