International Poetry Nights in Hong Kong - 26th-29th November

International Poetry Nights in Hong Kong
Press Release

“International Poetry Nights in Hong Kong”, a gala in celebration of poetry and poets, will be held from 26 to 29 November 2009. Famous poets from all around the globe will participate in the event, including Gary Snyder, the doyen of American poetry; Eliot Weinberger, the American essayist, poet and translator; Ahmad Abdul Muti Hijaji of Egypt, the leading poet of the Arabic world; Takahashi Mutsuo, the foremost Japanese poet of the post-war period; Luljeta Lleshanaku, the Albanian poetess; Kurt Drawert of Germany; and Carol Bracho, the famous Mexican poetess. Joining this stellar cast will be Zhai Yongming and Ouyang Jianghe from Mainland China, Hung Hung from Taiwan, and Hong Kong’s Yesi, Wu Yin-ching, Liu Wai Tong and Bei Dao.

The event is the biggest international gathering of poets in the history of Hong Kong. It will impart a sense of poetry to the busy life of the Hong Kong people, expand the vista of creativity and imagination in Hong Kong’s conventional education system, and contribute to the recognition of Hong Kong as an international metropolis.

The activities will be conducted multilingually. During the poetry recitations, English and Chinese versions of the poems will be projected on a screen for easy reference. The organizers will also publish a poetry collection, which will include selected poems of the participating poets in English, Chinese and the original language. Poetry lovers of all nationalities are welcome to attend the activities.

The following activities are open to the public:

Opening Ceremony and Poetry Recitation
Date: 26 November 2009 (Thursday)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: LT6, Teaching Complex at Western Campus, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Enquiry: Miss Lois Li (2696 1070; lois@cuhk.edu.hk)
Miss Esther Yip (2696 1088; estheryip@cuhk.edu.hk)

Music and Poetry Recitation
Date: 27 November 2009 (Friday)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Assembly Hall, Diocesan Boys’ School
Enquiry: Miss Mavis Lam (2768 5645; skitlam1110@gmail.com)

Poetry Reading and Forum: Gary Snyder and Chinese Civilization
Date: 28 November 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Place: LT3, YC Cheng Lecture Theatre 5/F, Cha Chi-ming Science Tower, Ho Sin Hang CampusHong Kong Baptist University
Enquiry: International Writers Workshop, Hong Kong Baptist University
(3411 2513; iwwevent@hkbu.edu.hk)

Hong Kong Poetry Night: Poetry Recitation in Cantonese
Date: 28 November 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: LT1, Esther Lee Building, Chung Chi CollegeThe Chinese University of Hong Kong
Enquiry: Miss Lois Li (2696 1070; lois@cuhk.edu.hk)
Miss Esther Yip (2696 1088; estheryip@cuhk.edu.hk)

Closing Ceremony and Poetry Recitation
Date: 29 November 2009 (Sunday)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Wanchai
Enquiry: Miss Lois Li (2696 1070; lois@cuhk.edu.hk)
Miss Esther Yip (2696 1088; estheryip@cuhk.edu.hk)

“Hong Kong International Poetry Nights” is jointly organized by the Centre for East Asian Studies at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the International Writers’ Workshop at Hong Kong Baptist University, and Diocesan Boys’ School. It is co-organized by the Faculty of Arts and the University Library System, CUHK, and sponsored by New Asia College, CUHK and The China Club.

General Enquiry: Miss Lois Li (2696 1070; lois@cuhk.edu.hk)
Miss Esther Yip (2696 1088; estheryip@cuhk.edu.hk)

Please also visit the event website.

Participant Yesi (also known as Leung Ping-kwan) has creative work previously published in Cha: An Asian Literary Journal in its inaugual issue (November 2007).