Hong Kong Book Fair exhibitors, health expert call for annual event to be postponed or suspended, citing Covid-19 infection concerns

More than 50 Hong Kong Book Fair exhibitors and a health expert on Friday have urged the postponement or suspension of the annual event, which is scheduled to open next Wednesday, citing concerns over a new wave of Covid-19 infections.

Their remarks came a day after the government tightened social-distancing rules as the new local cases hit 85 over the past three days, including 21 with unknown sources of infection.

But the organiser of the annual event, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, said on Thursday that it would press ahead with the book fair in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, to be held from 15 to 21 July. Last year’s edition attracted 980,000 visitors over its seven-day run.

The decision to press ahead with the fair is understood to be a collective decision of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and other relevant government departments.

Chinese University’s Dr David Hui Shu-cheong, a member of the government’s expert committee on public health, said on a radio programme on Friday morning that cancelling the exhibition would be an “ideal move” amid the sudden outbreak. Otherwise, the organiser should control the number of visitors to avoid crowds gathering and request them to wear a face mask in the venue.

The Book Fair Concern Group, which represents more than 50 booksellers and publishers, or roughly 10 per cent of the 585 participants expected to join this year’s event, issued a statement saying that given the curbs introduced by the government and the closing down of schools as precautionary measures, the authorities should also consider postponing the book fair.

“Out of the concerns of public health and industry’s interest, we worried if the event will go ahead,” the statement read.