Press Release

HKBU Chinese Writers' Workshop names Chu Yu-hsun, Huang Canran and Lam Sam-wai as Writers-in-Residence

Wednesday, 1 March 2023

Founded by the Faculty of Arts at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), the Chinese Writers’ Workshop (CWW) will host the 3rd “Chinese Writers-in-Residence Programme” (CWR) and the “Hong Kong Writers-in-Residence Programme” (HKWR) from 6 March to 6 April 2023. The three Writers-in-Residence, namely Taiwanese novelist Mr Chu Yu-hsun, Mainland poet Mr Huang Canran and Hong Kong novelist Ms Lam Sam-wai, will share their works and writing experience with readers at multiple events including the “Writers’ Reading and Conversation”, individual talks and writing workshops.

The Faculty of Arts at HKBU is committed to promoting creativity and developing different creative projects. The CWW is dedicated to fostering Chinese literature and culture, and it aims to showcase its diverse and rich landscapes. After organising the “Distinguished Chinese Writers Series” last September, the CWW will launch the CWR and HKWR this spring. Emerging overseas Chinese writers are invited to meet and exchange ideas with their Hong Kong counterparts at HKBU for one month.

The CWR invites two non-local writers to Hong Kong every year. Mr Chu Yu-hsun and Mr Huang Canran are this year’s Chinese Writers-in-Residence. Mr Chu has received multiple awards, such as the Golden Tripod Award and the Lin Rung San Literature Award from Taiwan, while Mr Huang is one of the most sought-after translators in mainland China.

The HKWR recruits local writers, and selected writers’ works will be translated into English and published in CWW’s bilingual anthology Lion Rock: The Anthology of Contemporary Hong Kong Literature. Ms Lam Sam-wai, the selected Hong Kong Writer-in-Residence this year, has received an award from the House of Hong Kong Literature for her short novel.

The three writers specialise in different genres and explore various themes. Please refer to the attachment for their biographies. The CWW will host a cross-programme opening event entitled “Writers’ Reading and Conversation” on 6 March, where the three writers will read and discuss their works. The CWW also plans to publish the Chinese Creative Writing Handbook to house reference materials and assist in the teaching of Chinese creative writing. Launched in 2020, the CWW is sponsored by the Tin Ka Ping Foundation.

Professor Stuart Christie, Acting Dean of Arts at HKBU, said: “Our sincere thanks go to the Tin Ka Ping Foundation for its steadfast support of the HKBU Faculty of Arts across the decades, culminating most recently in the formation of the CWW in 2020. The CWW at Hong Kong Baptist University is a unique and vibrant catchment of Chinese creative writing talent — locally, nationally, regionally — as the best writers in Chinese poetry and literature engage in a meaningful colloquy with other leading artists, professionals, and students in real-time and during fruitful interactions on and off the HKBU campus. It’s a unique event with few parallels in the Chinese-medium literary space and we are proud to host it.”

Events for the two programmes will be held in mixed-mode, and they are free of charge. Further details can be found on the Facebook page of the CWW. For any enquiries, please call 3411 2875 or email artsoc@hkbu.edu.hk. Members of the public who are interested in joining are welcome to sign up online.

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