Press Release

HKBU Chinese Writers’ Workshop names renowned writers Wang Zhanhei, King Ban Hui and Albert Tam as Writers-in-Residence

Monday, 24 March 2025

The Chinese Writers’ Workshop (CWW) launched by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) will host the 5th “Chinese Writers-in-Residence Programme” (CWR) and the “Hong Kong Writers-in-Residence Programme” (HKWR) from 28 March to 28 April. This year’s programmes feature three Writers-in-Residence, namely Mainland writer Ms Wang Zhanhei; Malaysian writer Mr King Ban Hui, and Hong Kong novelist Mr Albert Tam. They will engage with readers through events including “Writers’ Reading and Conversation”, individual talks and writing workshops.

HKBU’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has long been committed to promoting creativity and initiating different creative projects. CWW aims to promote contemporary Chinese literature and culture to showcase their diverse and rich landscapes. Following the “Distinguished Chinese Writers Series” last October, CWW will launch CWR and HKWR this spring. Both emerging and veteran Chinese writers from different places have been invited to spark creative exchanges with the Hong Kong Writers-in-Residence for one month.

This year’s CWR has invited Ms Wang Zhanhei and Mr King Ban Hui as Chinese Writers-in-Residence. Ms Wang is known for her adept use of the Wu dialect, sophisticated writing style and plain description technique in her works. Mr King has received numerous literary awards, including Taiwan’s United Daily News Literary Award, the Huazong World Chinese Literature Award and the Malaysia Outstanding Young Writer Award.

The HKWR accepts applications from local writers. Selected writers’ works will be translated into English and published in CWW’s bilingual anthology Lion Rock: The Anthology of Contemporary Hong Kong Literature. Mr Albert Tam, specialising in crime and science fiction, has been appointed as the 2025 Hong Kong Writer-in-Residence. His debut detective novel, The Clan Must Die, was ranked as the top Chinese work in the “Readmoo Recommended Mystery 2023” jointly organised by Readmoo and the Mystery Writers of Taiwan. It also won the Grand Prize in the fiction category at the 2024 Taipei International Book Exhibition Book Prizes.

Each of the three writers specialise in different genres and explore diverse themes in their creative writing. Please refer to their biographies in the attachment. CWW will be hosting a cross-programme opening event “Writers’ Reading and Conversation” on 28 March, where the three writers will read and discuss their works. CWW also plans to publish the Chinese Creative Writing Handbook to house reference materials, aiming to assist in the teaching of creative writing.

CWW is sponsored by the Tin Ka Ping Foundation. Professor Daniel Lai, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at HKBU, said: “Entering its fifth year, we sincerely appreciate the tremendous support from the Tin Ka Ping Foundation over the years. Since its establishment in 2020, CWW has made a concerted effort to provide a unique and inspiring platform for local, Mainland, and regional Chinese writing talent to interact instantly with other artists, literature-enthusiasts and students. Such events are relatively rare in the realm of Chinese literature, and I am very proud that the Faculty continues to host the CWW.”

The activities of CWR and HKWR are free of charge and will be held on HKBU campus. Further details can be found on the Facebook page of CWW. For any enquiries, please call 3411 5860 or email artsoc@hkbu.edu.hk. Members of the public who are interested in joining are welcome to sign up online (https://rb.gy/zqz6c6 ).