[Report from Big City Chronicle]Facing the trend of removals from public libraries in Hong Kong, Gao Jianxin, the founder of “Appreciative Citizens”, teamed up with a number of independent bookstores to launch the “UBR Unconditional Basic Reader Plan” this year. Different independent bookstores will select Hong Kong-related books. Newly published books are given to readers to purchase and donate, and the program will preserve the books for display in the future. The books here are preserved by the people here.
Last year, Mr. Ko organized the “Hong Kong to the Central Library” to scan Hong Kong’s paper books, newspapers and magazines, and prioritize those that have been removed from the shelves; this year, he focused on backing up new books. He pointed out that the first plan is to look at history, and the second plan is to look into the future. “UBR” means “Universal basic readers”. He hopes that all books published in Hong Kong will have a backup. For him, Hong Kong books include “for the people”, “of the people”, and “by the people”, that is, books written to Hong Kong people, books published by Hong Kong people, and books written by Hong Kong people. Books about Hong Kong do not necessarily have to be published in Hong Kong. Books published overseas, or even English books, as long as they are related to Hong Kong, he feels are worth preserving.
He doesn’t want to be a book selector or another “public library” that dominates the circulation of books in Hong Kong. To achieve “decentralization,” he cooperates with independent bookstores. Different bookstores select “book collection lists” and then Readers purchase books and donate them, and he will keep the books that no one buys. It is estimated that 300 to 500 books or publications can be backed up every year.
He said that it is currently unknown how the collected books will be presented in the future. There may be a book fair, and it is possible to display the books in Hong Kong in the past year. Currently, the plan is to only keep one copy of each of the books on the list, but if the plan is successful, one or two more books will be backed up, and one copy will be kept in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan in the future. This is also his vision.
“Who chooses Hong Kong’s books? Which books are worth storing? Which books are not worth storing? Which books are beneficial to the public? You don’t want the central government to decide? Then who decides?” He feels that the plan can at least solve these problems and let a group of independent bookstores decide. If citizens want to participate, they can go to different bookstores to help with shopping. It is a drop in the bucket, but we actually hope to benefit independent bookstores.
He feels that it may seem redundant now, but looking back in 2025, if there is a place where you can look back at all Hong Kong books in 2024, it will actually be a lot more interesting. He now spreads out the books he planned to purchase every month and took pictures. When he saw this picture, he said frankly: “In fact, it is the history of Hong Kong. Time will tell you and the community will tell you the significance of preserving Hong Kong books.” “
[Series of reports on banned books in Hong Kong｜Chronicles of Ayutthaya]
1｜The Ombudsman ruled that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s refusal to disclose library purchase orders was not in violation of the law and “disclosure would damage Hong Kong’s security”
2｜The number of new books in public libraries has declined compared to the first quarter of the 1980s. Only 9 Chinese books were on the shelves, including values education and 23 consultation documents.
3｜Books removed from the shelves in Hong Kong, the National Library of Singapore can freely read the works of Li Yi and Benny Tai, and others are “released”
4｜High-tech independent bookstore backup Hong Kong New Book hopes to retain 300 to 500 publications every year
5｜Independent bookstores survive in narrow streets and the library’s removal from shelves inspires citizens to rescue old books
Tags: Hong Kong banned books Gao Gao builds independent bookstores Hong Kong books hopes retain publications year
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