Page 76 of 115
145
144
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCILAs regards the development of a special collection on literature for children, the plan is to systemically build up the collection by adding 55,000 new items per year. A separate and comprehensive collection of children's literary works will be housed in the Hong Kong Central Library under planning.
Concerning the promotion of children's literature, the libraries hold regular book exhibitions and displays, organise literary talks, seminars, and meet-the-authors sessions. In 1993/1994, a total of 86 programmes were organised attracting an attendance of over 230,000.
A competition on Creative Writing in Chinese has been organised by the Council since 1981 to cultivate interest in writing children story books and picture books and develop talent in children's literature. Winning entries are published for sale to encourage creative writing and publication of good quality children's literature. So far, 48 children's books have been published with over 830,000 volumes sold. Since 1991, the Hong Kong Biennial Awards for Chinese Literature have been presented to the best Chinese literary works for adults and children published in Hong Kong. To further arouse interest in creative writing, a new Competition on Story Writing will be introduced in mid-1995 to encourage student interest in creative writing.
The libraries have also jointly organised literature-related activities with local organisations. Since 1992, the libraries have jointly presented the annual 'Reading Carnival' with Radio Television Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Professional Teachers Union to promote literature and reading. In December 1993, the libraries participated in the 'Joy to Story Kingdom' exhibition, a large-scale exhibition on children's literature, organised by the Hong Kong Children's Art Society and exhibited a wide range of award-winning children's literature. Writing workshops are also organised with the Sunny Campus of Sing Tao Daily to promote literary appreciation among students.
Council's libraries will continue to organise a wide range of outreach activities to promote children's literature.
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I am indeed very happy to see such a comprehensive reply. However, I do have some follow-up questions on paragraph 5 of the main reply.
Mr. Chairman, can we have some details on the special literature collection for children in the new Central Library? Is it independent of the main library and how comprehensive the collection will be? Is this a new development not only to systematically build up the collection but also to collect scripts, draft or final copies of works in collaboration with, for example, the Hong Kong Children's Art Society?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, one floor of the future Central Library will be dedicated to children's collections. There will be various types of books for children on that very floor.
Page 76 of 115
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Central Library will also act as a complementary centre to other branch libraries. In addition to providing support to adult libraries in the territory, it will provide other types of assistance and support as well. There will therefore be a wide range of materials in the children's collection. We will step up cooperation with local children's groups. We are embarking on a collection of the works of local literary artists which will result in publications of their biographies, writings and of course literature for children will become part of this collection as well.
With the completion of the Central Library, we will also step up cooperation with other interested groups in order to enrich the children's literature in the Central Library.
3. THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG asked the following question (in Cantonese):—Toys can stimulate children's creativity, promote their intellectual development and provide them with a happy childhood. In view of the educational value of toys, I would like to ask whether:
(a) there are plans to establish a toy library? Would UC libraries or the proposed Central Library set up toys corners to cater for children's needs?
(b) the Libraries Select Committee would consider and study the concept and management of toy libraries by making reference to overseas and local experience, so that an early decision could be made?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT, CHAIRMAN OF LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—This question concerns the provision of a toy library in the Council Libraries.
At present, there are over 30 toy libraries of varying scale operated by social welfare, voluntary and rehabilitation organisations in Hong Kong. Due to limited resources available and because the provision of toy libraries does not require specific library expertise, Council's current policy is not to provide dedicated toy libraries, but to provide appropriate educational kits such as discovery boxes and learning kits in all district libraries and to provide educational programmes on computer diskettes, Compact Disc-Read only Memories (CD-ROM) and Compact Disc-Interactive (CD-I) in the City Hall and Kowloon Central Libraries.
However, a toy library is planned for the Hong Kong Central Library, and the Libraries Select Committee will certainly take into account overseas and local experience in planning this new facility. For the CD-I I have mentioned, children can make use of the monitor to search for some information displayed on the screen if they need.
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—I would like to follow-up on the plan to set up a toy library in the Central Library, that is, a toy library corner in the new Central Library. I am rather disappointed because in the reply, we are not told about the experience overseas and also locally. So, Mr. CHAN, do
Page 76 of 115
Page 76 of 115
145
144
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
As regards the development of a special collection on literature for children, the plan is to systemically build up the collection by adding 55 000 new items per year. A separate and comprehensive collection of children's literary works will be housed in the Hong Kong Central Library under planning.
Concerning the promotion of children's literature, the libraries hold regular book exhibitions and displays, organise literary talks, seminars, and meet-the-authors sessions. In 1993/1994, a total of 86 programmes were organised attracting an attendance of over 230 000.
A competition on Creative Writing in Chinese has been organised by the Council since 1981 to cultivate interest in writing children story books and picture books and develop talent in children's literature. Winning entries are published for sale to encourage creative writing and publication of good quality children literature. So far, 48 children books have been published with over 830 000 volumes sold. Since 1991, the Hong Kong Biennial Awards for Chinese Literature have been presented to the best Chinese literary works for adults and children published in Hong Kong. To further arouse interest in creative writing, a new Competition on Story Writing will be introduced in mid-1995 to encourage student interest in creative writing.
The libraries have also jointly organised literature related activities with local organisation. Since 1992, the libraries have jointly presented the annual 'Reading Carnival' with Radio Television Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Professional Teachers Union to promote literature and reading. In December 1993, the libraries participated in the 'Joy to Story Kingdom' exhibition, a large scale exhibition on children's literature, organised by the Hong Kong Children's Art Society and exhibited a wide range of award winning children's literature. Writing workshops are also organised with the Sunny Campus of Sing Tao Daily to promote literary appreciation among students.
Council's libraries will continue to organise a wide range of outreach activities to promote children's literature.
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I am indeed very happy to see such a comprehensive reply. However, I do have some follow-up questions on paragraph 5 of the main reply.
Mr. Chairman, can we have some details on the special literature collection for children in the new Central Library? Is it independent of the main library and how comprehensive the collection will be? Is this a new development not only to systematically build up the collection but also to collect scripts, draft or final copies of works in collaboration with, for example, the Hong Kong Children's Art Society?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, one floor of the future Central Library will be dedicated to children's collections. There will be various types of books for children on that very floor.
Page 76 of 115
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Central Library will also act as a complementary centre to other branch libraries. In addition to providing support to adult libraries in the territory, it will provide other types of assistance and support as well. There will therefore be a wide range of materials in the children's collection. We will step up cooperation with local children groups. We are embarking on a collection of the works of local literary artists which will result in publications of their biographies, writings and of course literature for children will become part of this collection as well.
With the completion of the Central Library, we will also step up cooperation with other interested groups in order to enrich the children's literature in the Central Library.
3. THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG asked the following question (in Cantonese):-Toys can stimulate children's creativity, promote their intellectual development and provide them with a happy childhood. In view of the educational value of toys, I would like to ask whether:
(a) there are plans to establish a toy library? Would UC libraries or the proposed
Central Library set up toys corners to cater for children's needs?
(b) the Libraries Select Committee would consider and study the concept and management of toy libraries by making reference to overseas and local experience, so that an early decision could be made?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT, CHAIRMAN OF LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns the provision of a toy library in the Council Libraries.
At present, there are over 30 toy libraries of varying scale operated by social welfare, voluntary and rehabilitation organisations in Hong Kong. Due to limited resources available and because the provision of toy libraries does not require specific library expertise, Council's current policy is not to provide dedicated toy libraries, but to provide appropriate educational kits such as discovery boxes and learning kits in all district libraries and to provide educational programmes on computer diskettes, Compact Disc-Read only Memories (CD-ROM) and Compact Disc-Interactive (CD-I) in the City Hall and Kowloon Central Libraries.
However, a toy library is planned for the Hong Kong Central Library, and the Libraries Select Committee will certainly take into account overseas and local experience in planning this new facility. For the CD-I I have mentioned, children can make use of the monitor to search for some information displayed on the screen if they need.
THE HONOURABle Man Sai-cheoNG (in Cantonese):--I would like to follow-up on the plan to set up a toy library in the Central Library, that is, a toy library corner in the new Central Library. I am rather disappointed because in the reply, we are not told about the experience overseas and also locally. So, Mr. CHẠN, do
Page 76 of 115
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.