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HONG KONG : The annual Hong Kong Book Fair is where you can find the latest fad in the reading world.
And this year, it is debuting an e-book and digital publishing zone.
Some believe the fever for electronic books will change the face of publishing. But is this emerging trend eating into sales of paperback books?
Throngs of book lovers swarmed the annual Hong Kong Book Fair, with the latest titles and bargain buys up for grabs.
This year, the week-long event is showcasing one of the latest trends in the literary world.
Electronic book readers were all the rage, with many eager to get their hands on the latest gadgets.
"Well it is cool. You know many friends want to buy it, and so do I!" said a reader.
And storing an entire personal library of e-books in one device appeals to many in a space-limited city.
"I'm from Europe and in Europe we have a lot of space. But now I live in Hong Kong and I hardly have space for my bookshelf," another said.
E-book reader manufacturer Hanvon Technology said it is not just a passing fad.
It believes going digital will change the face of publishing - having sold 1.5 million of its e.p book readers globally last year.
Bo Bo Wong, assistant officer, Hanvon Techonology, said: "Now all the publishers and some of the developers are talking about the e-books. And there will be an increasing demand for e-books."
"Consumers are all about instant gratification. So being able to instantly download the latest best seller in seconds has its perks. But does this latest trend spell the end for paperbacks?"
Bookstores said the emergence of their digital counterparts has yet to impact sales.
Regional chain Page One has seen book sales jump by 10 per cent over the past year. It believes hard copies still have an edge with genuine book lovers.
Keith Wong, senior marketing executive, Page One, said: "All of the hot titles, the first thing - they will have the hardcopy first. And then after around half a year they will have e-books."
Whether books come in a classic or tech-trendy form, bookstores said there is room for both to survive in the market.
Answering a question on whether the traditional paperback book will go extinct anytime soon, Mr Wong said: "Will not (go) extinct and cannot be replaced."
- CNA/al
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