Book Fair thrives (note 1) after dumping (放棄) teen models

The Hong Kong Book Fair has set a new attendance record (到場人數新紀錄), thanks (note 2) in part to the restriction on book promotion activities by teen models (note 3).

According to fair organizer (主辦單位) the Trade Development Council, about 950,000 people visited the seven-day event this year, breaking last year's record of 920,000. The number included 15,000 tourists, 15 percent more than 2010. They were mainly from the mainland, Macau and Taiwan. There were also more children.

Council deputy executive director Benjamin Chau Kai-leung said because of the restrictions (限制) on teen models and an increase in the "Children's Paradise" area, more parents arrived at the fair with their kids. The "Future Book Store" zone - introduced this year and enabling visitors to create (創作) their own books - was also popular, attracting more than 10,000 people.

The Hong Kong Publishing Federation said that although sales increased, profits were about the same as last year because of higher costs. On the last day of the weeklong (共七天) fair yesterday, exhibitors (參展商) used different tactics (note 4) to attract visitors. Systech Technology and Media, which sells computer books, offered a special package (note 5) from Monday in which customers paid HK$100 for a plastic bag and were allowed to fill it (裝滿) with as many books as they could.

Systech editor Idy Chow Pui-yu said each bag could hold up to 40 books. "We wanted to clear out (note 6) all our books today because it is costly (成本太重) to transport them back to our warehouse," she said, adding they sold more than 10,000 books. The Trade Development Council said a survey of 812 visitors from July 20-23 found that fiction and novels were the top choice for 52 percent.

From good to better English:

(note 1) thrive=.興旺，繁榮, 成功。Thrive的同義詞有boom, flourish, prosper。The Hong Kong stock market is thriving despite economic uncertainties=雖然經濟前景不明朗，香港股市市場繁榮。

(note 2) thanks to=原因是、幸虧。Thank=感謝，道謝。Thank God, my latest book has sold more than 2,000 copies, Victor said=Victor說: 謝天謝地, 我的新書賣了超過2,000本。No, thanks=不要了，謝謝。

(note 3) teen models=年輕的模特兒 (又稱pseudo-models，因為她們很多都是扮出來的)。Pseudo=假，偽，冒充的 (False or counterfeit; fake)。Victor’s pseudonym (a fictitious name, especially a pen name) is Dean Fung= Victor的筆名是 Dean Fung。

(note 4) different tactics=不同的辦法。Tactics=策略。Military tactics=戰略。Tactics 的同義詞有maneuver, stratagem。

(note 5) a special package=特別的出賣品 (A proposition or an offer)。 package deal= 整批交易。package tour= 包辦全程旅行計畫。

(note 6) clear out=清倉, 把東西賣光。Do I make myself clear？Mo Mo asks Bo Bo= Mo Mo 問Bo Bo: 你明白我的意思嗎？A clear sky=晴空。All clear=解除警報。Victor tells Steve to keep clear of drugs= Victor 勸Steve避開毒品。

Victor’s View: I believe in freedom of speech and expression. But the book fair isn’t a suitable venue for the scantily-dressed teen models to strut their stuff since there are young children there. Another occasion should be set up for the teen models.

(Victor Fung Keung, director of HK Baptist University’s M.A. in international journalism program, has published 4 books on English-enhancement [the latest, titled <<學會演說、改變你的人生>>, was published on July 18] and plans to write 6 more by the end of 2012. Write to him: deanfungenglish@gmail.com)