Local publishers urge govt to promote reading

The Hong Kong Publishing Professionals Society on Tuesday called on the government to promote reading in the city. In a survey conducted by the society last month, nearly 69 percent of the 1,006 respondents had a habit of reading physical books, down from 74.5 percent in 2021. Edmund Chan, the director of City University of Hong Kong Press, told RTHK the findings showed a need to promote reading among residents. "In Hong Kong, it's a little bit lagging behind, in the sense that, if we're talking about students, then most students they spend time reading simply because they need to fulfill the requirement of the school or simply they don't have time," he said. "Youngsters, as always, they could acquire knowledge out of what they are required. So, it is a self-motivated reading habit that we are promoting, we are advocating." The society recommended the government establish additional reading rooms within libraries to create more reading spaces for residents. It also urged the authorities to introduce "reading vouchers" that would allow youngsters to access their preferred books.