News

HKBU presents Dream of the Red Chamber Award to novelist Ge Liang for Food is Heaven

02-12-2024

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) awarded Professor Ge Liang the first prize of the 10th Dream of the Red Chamber Award for his novel Food is Heaven at the ceremony on 22 November.

Professor Ge, expressing gratitude for the recognition, shared that his recent literary endeavors, following the publishing of Scarlet Finch and Paper Hawk, have delved into embodying traditional Chinese culture. Every form of intangible cultural heritage that he has encountered during his research and writing was a testimony of time accrued over hundreds or even thousands of years.

Please click here for Professor Ge Liang’s full address at the ceremony (Chinese only).

The ceremony was officiated by Ms Eve Tam, Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the HKSAR Government; Ms Winsome Chow, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council; Professor Lawrence Zhang, representative of the Zhang Da Peng Endowment Fund; Ms Zhao Ping, Deputy Chief Editor of People’s Literature Publishing House and Editor-in-charge of Food is Heaven; Mr Yu Keling, Chief Editor and Deputy General Manager of the Joint Publishing HK; Mr Chan Koon-chung, renowned writer; and Dr Enoch Tam, President of Typesetter Publishing.

Officiating guests from HKBU included Mr Paul Poon, Deputy Chairman of the Council and Court; Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor; Professor Ng Ching-fai, President Emeritus; Dr Albert Chau, Vice-President (Teaching and Learning); Professor Daniel Lai, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; and Professor Chung Ling, Chairman of the judging panel of the 10th Dream of the Red Chamber Award and Emeritus Professor of HKBU.

After the ceremony, Professor Ge and Mr Chan Koon-chung engaged in a discussion on the Lingnan culture, and the narrative and historical writing of Guangdong and Hong Kong during the “Writers in Dialogue” session. They shared insights on the relationship between their novel writing, Lingnan culture and Chinese culture, as well as their perspectives on Cantonese, Hong Kong and history writing.

Professor Ge Liang is a globally celebrated author, currently serving as Professor at the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, the Academy of Chinese, History, Religion and Philosophy under the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at HKBU. Professor Ge has received prestigious awards such as the Lu Xun Literary Prize and the Hong Kong Book Prize for his acclaimed works like Scarlet Finch, Paper Hawk, and Food is Heaven. His novels were recognized as "Top Ten Chinese Novels," with nominations for the Mao Dun Literature Prize. He has also been honored as Artist of the Year in Literary Arts and received titles like Global Chinese-language Writer of the Year.

The Dream of the Red Chamber Award, sponsored by Mr. Zhang Dapeng, aims to promote outstanding Chinese novels globally, with the top prize including HK$300,000, a certificate, and a specially designed trophy. Visit the Award's Facebook Page for more information.