Organised by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC), over 30 acclaimed scholars, writers and literary critics will share their insights and views on the development of Chinese literature at "International Conference on 20th and 21st Century Chinese Literature: Retrospect and Prospect" from 29 November to 1 December at the Hong Kong Central Library (Lecture Theatre).

To mark this memorable occasion, an opening ceremony was held today with the presence of Ms. Elsie Leung Oi-sie, Vice Director of the Committee for the Basic Law; Mr. Ma Fung-kwok, Chairman of ADC and Mr. Hon Man-po, Chairman of ADC's Literary Art Group as the officiating guests.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Hon expressed his visions, "The history of Chinese literature resembles the movement of a river. Each literary wave hits the river, causing the best and most important literary works sink down to the river bed like large rocks and to be discovered after a long period of time. Through this Conference, we hope to gather the participants to retrieve those significant, yet undiscovered Chinese literary works of high appreciation values."

The three-day conference aims to provide a platform for different scholars to share and exchange their views on the development of Chinese Literature in the last century and pave the way ahead. It is also hoped to facilitate the academic and cultural exchange among scholars and writers from Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas.

Kick-off with the topic on the retrospect of Chinese literature in the last century, the speakers will share with us their views on a wide range of topics from modern Chinese poems, fiction characters and writers, literary thoughts in China, and relationship between Chinese and Hong Kong literature as well as the development of Chinese literature in the 21st century in the following days. A publication incorporating all the conference papers will be published later.

For details, please visit ADC's website at http://www.hkadc.org.hk/events/iccl/