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The 25th Chinese Poetry Writing Competition prize presentation ceremony, organised by the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), was held today (September 24) at Hong Kong Central Library. The first prizes in the open category and the student category went respectively to Mr Li King-bong's interesting five-character regulated poem and The Chinese University of Hong Kong student Miss Fok Lam's sentimental seven-character regulated poem.
In his poem, Li vividly describes a book lover who accidentally dirties his book as he tries to kill a mosquito that interrupts his reading, while in her poem Fok melancholically ponders the emotions caused by insomnia. Other winning works examined a variety of topics including nature, nostalgia and personal thoughts on current issues.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Assistant Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Libraries and Development), Miss Rochelle Lau, said that classical Chinese poetry has been neglected due to the information boom in modern society and the development of technology and cyber culture.
Miss Lau added that the Chinese Poetry Writing Competition aims to promote greater interest in writing and appreciation of Chinese poetry, so as to preserve this Chinese literary legacy. The HKPL also organised the Talk Series on Chinese Poetry Writing to educate participants on the characteristics, rhyming and writing skills of Chinese poetry, so as to cultivate greater interest in poetry and improve knowledge of the Chinese language.
Adjudicators Professor Ho Man-wui, Professor Chan Chi-ching, Professor Wong Kuan-io and Professor Lau Wai-lam also presented prizes to the winners at today's ceremony. Also adjudicating at this year's competition were Professor Nicholas Louis Chan and Professor Tang Pui-ling.
The HKPL continuously enhances its Chinese literature collection and has organised the Chinese Poetry Writing Competition annually since 1991. This is the 13th time that participants have taken the opportunity to showcase their literary talent in writing Chinese classical poetry.
With more than 1,000 entries, the competition received an enthusiastic response this year. Participants of the student category are mainly high school and college students, while those of the open category come from different walks of life.
The competition consists of a student category and an open category, each with a First Prize, Second Prize, Third Prize, five Merit Prizes and two Special Prizes. The winners' list is as follows:
Student Category:
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1st Prize Fok Lam The Chinese University
of Hong Kong
2nd Prize Zhao Xiao-yu The Chinese University
of Hong Kong
3rd Prize Meng Xiao-ran The Chinese University
of Hong Kong
Merit Prizes Lam Tsun-ho Queen's College
Law Wai-tan The Chinese University
of Hong Kong
Leung Tsoi-hang The Chinese University
of Hong Kong
Wu Ka-ho The Chinese University
of Hong Kong
Yeung Wai-kin St Mark's School
Special Chan Pak-him Hong Kong
Prizes Taoist Association
Tang Hin Memorial
Secondary School
Yeung Wai-shing The Open University
of Hong Kong
Open Category:
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1st Prize Li King-bong
2nd Prize Poon Siu-mang
3rd Prize Sze Kau-lung
Merit Prizes Chan Chung-kei
Chan Wai-cheung
Chung Yat-fai
Li Oi-to
Luk Chi-hong
Special Prizes Huang Yee-chow
Pang To-nam
The 25th Chinese Poetry Writing Competition's winning works will be on display from tomorrow (September 25) until October 27 at the foyer of the South Entrance of Hong Kong Central Library. A roving exhibition will be held at various public libraries afterwards. The schedule of the roving exhibition and the winning entries will also be uploaded to the HKPL's website at www.hkpl.gov.hk/poetrywriting for public viewing.
Ends/Thursday, September 24, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:55
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