Event Highlight | Cubic Zine event: “Publishing 3.0 – HK Smart e-Book Hub” Press Conference and Seminar (20230719)

On July 19, the “Publishing 3.0 –HK Smarte-Book Hub”Press Conferenceand Seminar was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wanchai, as part of theHong Kong Book Fair2023. The event was kicked off by a ceremony with esteemed guests of honor, including Mr. Kevin YEUNG Yun-hung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr. Kenneth FOK Kai Kong, the Chairman of theHong Kong Arts Development Council(HKADC), Dr. Elvin LEE Ka-kui, President of Hong Kong Publishing Federation(HKPF) and Chairman of the “Pub3.0” Steering Committee, Mr. Victor TSANG Chiu-hok, Head of Create Hong Kong (CreateHK), and Ir Dr. Alan LAM Hiu Fung, the Chairman of the Board of Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM).

Our Director, Prof. Benny Chung-Ying ZEE, was invited to join the panel discussion alongside the other distinguished speakers. The seminar focused on the technology applications, upgrading, transformation, and trend development of the publishing industry. Prof. ZEE shared valuable insights and perspectives on the future of the publishing industry, particularly in the context of the rapid advancements in technology and the increasing demand for digital content and e-books.

The speakers discussed how new technology can help foster artistic and cultural development in Hong Kong. The eHub’s potential is to create intercultural opportunities by using artificial intelligence systems (A.I.) and “Text-to-Speech” (TTS) to lower the production and time costs of text translation and conversion while encouraging small and medium-sized publishers to bring creative work and facilitating Hong Kong publishers’ exploration of markets in different regions.

Overall, the event highlighted the importance of technology in the publishing industry and how it can be used to drive innovation and growth while creating new opportunities for writers and publishers alike.

Media coverage: https://tinyurl.com/3c5ak3t9 (Singtao)

https://tinyurl.com/yzw8pz6u (Bastillepost)

https://tinyurl.com/3m968kvn  (Hkcna)

https://tinyurl.com/bdewtv4k (The Commercial Radio)

Promotion video on ORKTS’s youtube channel: 【💡出版3.0香港智能電子書庫】科技 X 出版專業

Free trial for listening and reading: https://publishing3.hk/Book/detail/id/2015.html

The “Pub3.0” one-stop service portal opens for publishers and authors to register, they can use the conversion platform and the portal for free: https://publishing3.hk

More about the book 《「學人」搞社創》: https://innoport.cuhk.edu.hk/cubic-zine/

Panel discussion. From left to right:  Executive Chairman (Information Technology) of the “Pub3.0” Steering Committee: Mr. Ponch POON, Professor Benny ZEE, Director of The Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services (ORKTS),Dr. Elvin LEE Ka-kui, President of HKPF and Chairman of the “Pub3.0” Steering Committee, Ir Dr. Alan LAM Hiu Fung, the Chairman of the Board of Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM), and Dr. Sharon WONG Yin-yue, Chairwoman of HKRRLS and Executive Chairwoman (Administration) of the “Pub3.0” Steering Committee.(Photo: ORKTS)

Group photo of honorable guests from HKSAR, HKTDC, HKPF, LSCM, academic and publishing industy.(Photo: ORKTS)

Mr. Kevin YEUNG Yun-hung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism said in the speech that, starting from next year, April 23 will be designated as the Hong Kong Reading for All Day to further promote the benefits of reading citywide.(Photo: ORKTS)

Distinguished speakers (from left to right) included Professor Benny ZEE, Director of The Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services (ORKTS) at CUHK, Dr. Elvin LEE Ka-kui, President of HKPF and Chairman of the “Pub3.0” Steering Committee, Ir Dr. Alan LAM Hiu Fung, the Chairman of the Board of Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM), and Dr. Sharon WONG Yin-yue, Chairwoman of HKRRLS and Executive Chairwoman (Administration) of the “Pub3.0” Steering Committee.  (Photo: ORKTS)

The book《「學人」搞社創》(“Scholars Creating Social Innovations”)published by ORKTS was introduced to the public and media. Dr. Sharon WONG presented how “TTS” (Text-to-Speech) converts the content into audiobooks in three languages, Putonhua, English and Cantonese. (Photo: ORKTS)

ORKTS published the book 《「學人」搞社創》 (“Scholars Creating Social Innovations”) last year and it was selected to join the project of “Publishing 3.0 – Hong Kong Smart E-Book Hub“. (Photo: ORKTS)

A free trial of the platform will be available at the Hong Kong Book Fair’s booth. You are welcome to visit the booth. (Photo: ORKTS)

(From left to right) ORKTS InnoPort team Alice FONG, Kenny SIU, Director of ORKTS Prof. Benny ZEE and e-Book Hubteam. (Photo: ORKTS)