The SHKP Reading Club under Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited has a Read & Share programme with the Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association and presented 113 inspiring reading activities to over 30,000 teachers and students from 80 primary and secondary schools in the 2016/17 academic year to encourage reading.  A poetry competition as part of the programme attracted over 3,400 entries, and there was an award ceremony today (24 August) recognizing the schools, teachers and students who were most active.  The Reading Club also previewed its 2017/18 Read & Share programme designed to spread reading to even more schools across Hong Kong.

The 2016/17 Read & Share theme was ‘children’s poetry’ and had 15 celebrities and writers talking of reading and writing with students, encouraging them to appreciate poetry and its delights.  The speakers were Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association honorary chairman Leung Siu-tong, retired Fresh Fish Traders’ School principal Leung Kee-cheong, veteran social worker, psychology tutor and writer Annie Chiang, comic artist Chao Yat, Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong artist Apple Tong, raconteur Cheung Miu-miu, Walk in Hong Kong founder Paul Chan and past Young Writers’ Debut Competition winners Tong Yui, Matthew Cheng, Vivien Ywen, Amy Chan, Suki Yu, Fontane Yiu, Brown White and Kary Kwan.  Overseas students from AFS Intercultural Exchanges also hosted reading session to introduce local students to the world of English reading in a fun way.

The 2016/17 Read & Share included a poetry competition in which students had to create poems and illustrations on the theme ‘my dream world’.  Outstanding entries in the junior and senior divisions won gold, silver, bronze and two merit awards as participants showed creativity and imagination describing aspirations for the future.  Gold winner in the junior primary division Joyce Lu described herself as a girl who loved singing, drawing, reading and travelling, and imagined herself as a lark, a brush, bookmark and dandelion.  Gold winner in the senior primary division Tsui Ning wrote a poem about a wonderful world where he was an eagle flying to the future with a shining sword of justice making the world a better place.

Outstanding Performance awards were also presented to students and teachers nominated by participating schools for their dedication to reading and related promotional activities during the year.  Free Methodist Mei Lam Primary School won the Most Active Participation award.

SHKP Director of Corporate Communications Chris Liu said: “SHKP promotes reading to youngsters in different ways because we think books can increase knowledge and broaden horizons.  We started the free linepaper multi-media reading platform this summer to attract more young people to the world of reading, and we will be promoting the Read & Share programme in local secondary schools in the new school year to build the reading habit in even more teens.”

The 2017/18 Read & Share theme is ‘love reading, love nature’.  It will feature a series of activities to raise students’ environmental awareness through reading with events like Recycle Your Read celebrity talks, Whole Green World cultural exchanges and creative workshops.  Primary and secondary schools are welcome to join Read & Share at no cost.

About the SHKP Reading Club

SHKP believes in Building Homes with Heart and promotes reading and holistic development.  It set up the SHKP Reading Club in 2013 to consolidate its reading-related initiatives such as seminars with leading speakers and guided cultural tours to inspire more people to enjoy reading and make it a habit.  Anyone interested can join free at www.shkpreadingclub.com.