What are the dates of the 2010 Man Hong Kong International Literary Festival?
11-19 March 2010

When will the programme be announced?
Tickets for select events for Friends and Patrons will be available beginning in December. Become a Friend of the Festival and sign up to e-news to receive notice. The full programme will be available on the MHKILF website 1 February 2010. The South China Morning Post will run a special Sunday supplement with the full programme two weeks before the Festival begins.

Where does the Festival take place?
The Festival has events taking place all over the city. Many events take place at the Central Library, the Visual Arts Centre and the Fringe Club. We also use other city venues including the Science Museum, City Hall, Olympic House and St John’s Cathedral. Restaurants, hotels, Consul-General’s residences and private clubs open their doors to audiences of literary events and we hold talks at M at the Fringe, DotCod, The Press Room, Mrs. Jones, the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, The Four Seasons, the Kee Club, the Hong Kong Club, the Football Club, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club, the Helena May and more. Finally, Hong Kong’s secondary and tertiary institutions hold talks each year: Hong Kong University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University and the Canadian International School.

Do I need to buy tickets to attend events?
The Festival is made up of a combination of ticketed and free events. Many free events do require advance registration; these details will be listed on the website and in the programme. Ticketed events do sell out so it is recommended that you purchase tickets in advance. Tickets for paid events can be purchased from the day the Festival programme is announced. Ticket prices and booking details are listed in the programme.

What are the advantages of being a Friend or Patron of the Festival?
As a not-for-profit organisation we rely on the generosity of individuals and corporations to keep the Festival going from year to year. Friends and Patrons will receive advance notice about authors and events, priority booking and access to invitation-only events. Patrons are also listed in the House Programme.

How are writers chosen to participate in the Festival?
The Festival operates on an invitation-only basis and invitations are issued at the discretion of the General Manager, who works with advisors and colleagues to create the programme well ahead of each Festival. Each year the Festival receives many unsolicited submissions from authors wishing to speak at the Festival or from publishers and other people interested in putting forward an idea for the Festival programme. The General Manager does take the time to consider whether these unsolicited submissions, requests or pitches will fit into the Festival’s themes and mission and will attempt to reply to each one.

Can you put me in touch with an author on the programme?
For privacy reasons, we do not pass on contact details for authors attending the Man Hong Kong International Literary Festival. The best way to contact our guest authors is to attend their events: book signings almost always follow their talks. Alternatively, you may contact the authors through their publisher or agent.

How can I learn more about the Schools Programme?
The Schools Programme has been a popular component of the Man Hong Kong International Literary Festival from the very beginning. Every year we have invited students to experience a wonderful programme that allows them to interact with, learn from and be inspired by acclaimed, popular and beloved authors. Please note that these events are for school groups only as they take place during school hours. For more information, please see the Schools page.

Do you need volunteers?
Festival Volunteers are a vital and valued part of the Man Hong Kong International Literary Festival. Volunteers are often the first point of contact for the public as well as for many of our writers. As a volunteer, you will gain valuable experience working for one of the world’s finest literary events. You will have the opportunity to witness inspiring sessions and to meet other great volunteers! For more information on becoming a volunteer please visit the Support the Festival page on our website.

What is the relationship between the Festival and the Man Asian Literary Prize?
Man Group plc is the sponsor for both the Hong Kong International Literary Festival and the Man Asian Literary Prize.  There is no formal link between the two organisations but both share a commitment to promote good writing in Asia. The Prize is jointly administered representatives by of the Festival, the University of Hong Kong and Chinese University of Hong Kong.