Literature is found everywhere in our lives, not just in books.

The 6th Hong Kong Literature Festival, to be held from 30 June to 16 July, will bring us on a journey to explore the joy of reading and the impact of literature on our lives. An array of activities including thematic exhibitions, symposiums, interflow activities, arts performances and literary talks will be held during the Festival.

This year, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC) will join hands with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for its third times to organise major activities including three symposiums, six interflow activities and six arts performances.

The theme of this year's symposium is "Hong Kong Literature: Local and Cross-Cultural Consciousness" with the participation of a distinguished panel of local and overseas scholars. The first one, entitled "The Local Consciousness of Hong Kong Literature", will be hosted by local scholars Dr Wong Leung-wo, Dr Chan Chi-tak and Dr Cheung Wing-mui. They will address consciousness and sensibility that has given Hong Kong literature its unique signature across the eras. Prof Yeung Yuk-fung will serve as both discussant and moderator.

The second symposium will focus on topic "A Boundary-Crossing Hong Kong Literature" with Prof Yip Wai-lim from the United States, Prof Wong Wang-chi from Singapore and Prof Cheng Pei-kai from Hong Kong as speakers. The discussant will be Prof Chan Ching-kiu and Dr Ma Ka-fai as moderator.

In the third symposium, entitled "Literature of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Chinese Diaspora: Uniqueness and Commonality", Prof Chen Zi-shan from Shanghai will be joined by local scholars Prof Chung Ling and Prof Wu Hung-I. Serving as the discussant and the moderator will be Mr Hon Man-po, Chairman of the ADC Literary Arts Group and Prof Fan Sin-piu respectively.

Interflow activities comprise dynamic, interactive seminars, workshops and performances that engage the audience in literary exchanges with speakers and performers. It includes "Contemporary Poetry Multi-media Recitation" by an ensemble of secondary and tertiary students, "Reading and Everyday Life" to explore ways of integrating readings into everyday life and "The Garden of Children Literature: An Exchange between Sowers from Hong Kong and Macau" to promote the wider use and enjoyment of children's books.

During the Festival, literary works will also reinvent themselves as music pieces, dance and drama performances, xiqu and cross-media presentations that showcase the best of both literary and performing arts worlds and add new dimensions to the reading experiences. For example, there are shadow puppet show and xiqu performance.

For programme details, please visit the Hong Kong Literature Festival web site at http://www.hklf.org.hk.