Campus Digest

HKBU writers scoop five prizes in Hong Kong Biennial Awards for Chinese Literature

06 Nov 2015

HKBU writers shined again in the literary arena, with three scholars, one student and one alumnus winning prizes in the 13th Hong Kong Biennial Awards for Chinese Literature.

Among the winners, Dr Chu Siu-cheung, Senior Lecturer of the Language Centre, clinched the first prize in the prose category with his book A private domain, while Mr Lau Wai-shing, PhD student of the Department of Humanities and Creative Writing, took the first prize in the poem category with his work How broad are plank roads of sunshine. Dr Wong Leung-wo, a PhD graduate of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, captured the first prize in the novel category with his entry Breakthrough from Hell.

Dr Chow Yiu-fai, Assistant Professor of the Department of Humanities and Creative Writing, received the recommendation prize in the prose category for his book A long long farewell, while Dr Lim Chin-chown, Associate Professor of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, obtained the recommendation prize in the literary criticism category with his work 身體與符號建構：重讀中國現代女性文學.

This is the third time Dr Chu Siu-cheung has won the Biennial Award. He feels greatly encouraged that his writing continuously echoes readers’ sentiments and arouses their interest. Earlier in October, A private domain also won a Best Book Award in the Hong Kong Golden Book Awards.

Dr Chow Yiu-fai said he is pleased to claim the prize since this is the first literary award given to his works other than lyric writing. He said that the book is dedicated to his mother so this award is even more meaningful as it serves as a token to remember her by.

For Dr Lim Chin-chown, this is his second time to receive the Biennial Award, which he considers as an encouragement and a recognition of his work.

Organised by the Hong Kong Public Libraries and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the Awards aim to recognise the outstanding achievements of Hong Kong writers and encourage authors to continue creating distinguished Chinese literary works. This year, a total of 10 prizes were given in five categories: poetry, prose, short story, literary criticism and children’s literature.