After 33 years and one pandemic, the Hong Kong Book Fair remains a mecca for local book-lovers, writes Amy Mullins.

The 33rd edition of the Hong Kong Book Fair (HKBF) opened Wednesday, the fair returning for what could be considered its first post-pandemic event. The seven-day fair attracted 850,000 visitors in 2022, despite the pandemic - a more-than-respectable turnout, based on the pre-pandemic 2019 figure of 980,000. The previous year, 2018, had set the record with 1.04 million visitors.

For the uninitiated, the HKBF is organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), making it an important platform for access to literature. According to the HKTDC, 82 percent of attendees went looking for new releases in 2022. However, the Book Fair should not be confused with the Hong Kong International Literary Festival. "The festival is typically a more curated event, featuring a smaller number of literary figures who participate in panel discussions, readings and other events," explains an HKTDC spokesperson. "By contrast, the Book Fair is a literary event on a much larger scale, offering a wider and more diverse range of literary genres, from children's books to academic publications, in different languages; and it features a larger number of exhibitors and cultural activities."