Pub 3.0 team is currently joining the “Soaring Creativity – Hong Kong Pavilion” at Frankfurt Book Fair 2023 from 18 to 22 October 2023 to showcase the e-Book Publishing Conversion Platform and the first collection of “Hong Kong Smart e-Book Hub” with 400+ selected Hong Kong-published Chinese e-books that are available for copyright trading and bulk purchase. Dr Wong Yin Yue, Sharon, Executive Director of Hong Kong Reprographic Rights Licensing Society will also conduct two sharing sessions with the theme “Hong Kong Smart e-Book Hub ”, inviting everyone to ‘explore Hong Kong through reading ‘ during the book fair.
“Hong Kong Smart e-Book Hub” is a collection of selected Hong Kong smart e-books that are available for copyright trading or bulk purchase. Selected Hong Kong-published Chinese books have been translated and converted to e-books in Chinese and English, as well as audiobooks in Cantonese, Putonghua and English by the e-Book Publishing Conversion Platform driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) under the project “Publishing 3.0 – Hong Kong Smart e-Book Hub” (Pub 3.0) . The “Hong Kong Smart e-book Hub” currently features classic works by renowned authors, as well as the latest masterpieces by emerging writers. These publications can be classified into following categories:
Living & Social Lives, History & Biography, Medical Healthcare, Literature & Fiction and Finance & Business.
The LSCM Logistics Summit featured a technology exhibition showcasing the latest developments in logistics and supply chain technologies by the LSCM. The representatives from Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM) under Innovation and Technology Commission introduced the “Celebrity x AI Voice Narration Book” project, demonstrating the AI voice technology developed by LSCM that is comparable to the quality of human narration. “Publishing 3.0” will actively explore the application of this technology to enhance the collection of audio books in the “Hong Kong Smart e-Book Hub” thereby increasing readers’ interest in audio books and promoting a greater interest in reading among the general public.
The International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO) held its General Assembly and World Congress in Reykjavik, Iceland in October 2023. The event, hosted by IFRRO’s Icelandic member, was a representative gathering of global members. The HKRRLS also delegated representative, the Executive Director Dr Sharon Wong to attend this significant event. The Congress was opened by the Guest of Honour, President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, who gave an inspiring speech on the value of literature, creativity, and copyright. The opening ceremony also featured a keynote address by Benoît Müller, Director of the Copyright Management Division at the World Intellectual Property Organisation. The event highlighted the challenges and opportunities of generative AI for creators and rightsholders, with a keynote presentation by Peter Schoppert, Director of National University of Singapore Press and Board Director of Singaporean RRO, CLASS. The event demonstrated IFRRO’s commitment to addressing key issues in the collective management sector. The Congress was also a testament to IFRRO’s role as a leading international network advocating for creators’ and publishers’ rights.
The “Publishing 3.0” set up a promotional booth at Hong Kong Book Fair 2023 from July 19 to 25, where different Hong Kong publishers, authors, editors as well as readers visited to experience various functions available on the “Publishing 3.0” one-stop service portal. These functions include translation of Chinese books into English using AI, conversion of printed books into e-books, as well as audio books in Cantonese, Putonghua and English using Text to Speech (TTS) technology.
Alongside the promotion at the fairground, a sharing session was held on July 22, 2023. Speakers included Dr. Charles CHEUNG, Senior Data Scientist & Deputy Director from Nividia AI Tech Centre Hong Kong branch, and Dr. Frank TONG, Director of the (LSCM) had in-depth exchanges with the participants on generative AI with industry transformation, as well as technical applications and operation of the “e-Book Publishing Conversion Platform”.
With positive feedback from the industry on the open call, the first collection of “Hong Kong Smart e-Book Hub” with over 1,000 selected Hong Kong-published Chinese e-books were compiled and officially inaugurated on the first day of Hong Kong Fair 2023 on July 19. The latest development and future promotion plan of the “Publishing 3.0” were also introduced in the concurrent seminar to encourage more Hong Kong publishers and writers to participate in the scheme.
The inauguration ceremony was officiated by Mr. Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, GBS, JP, Secretary from Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government (middle in the photo on the left). Other distinguished guests included the Honourable Kenneth FOK Kai-kong, JP, Member of the Legislative Council (Sport, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication) of the HKSAR (second left); Mr. Victor Tsang Chiu-hok, Head of CreateHK (first left); Dr. Elvin LEE Ka-kui, Chairman of the HKPF and Chairman of the “Publishing 3.0” Organizing Committee (second right); Ir. Dr. Alan LAM Hiu-fung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the LSCM (first right); Dr. Sharon WONG, Executive Chairlady (Administration) and Mr. Ponch POON, Executive Chairman (Information Technology) of the “Publishing 3.0” Organizing Committee joined Mr. YEUNG in the ceremony.
Mr. Kevin YEUNG Yun-hung remarked that the “Publishing 3.0” could attract more publishers and writers from the Mainland and overseas to collaborate with Hong Kong publishers to produce Chinese and English e-books, as well as audio books in Cantonese, Putonghua and English. This would help develop Hong Kong into a regional hub for copyright trading of e-books and audio books, taking an important step towards industrialization of Hong Kong’s cultural, creative and art works.
Following the inauguration ceremony, a seminar was held to explore technological applications, optimization, transformation, and development trends in the publishing industry. It was hosted by Mr. Ponch POON, Executive Chairman (Information Technology) of the “Publishing 3.0” Organizing Committee, and the panelists included Professor Benny ZEE, Director of the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services of The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Ir. Dr. Alan LAM Hiu –fung Chairman of the Board of Directors of the LSCM; Dr. Elvin LEE and Dr. Sharon WONG.
The Hong Kong Reprographic Rights Licensing Society (HKRRLS)’s office will be relocated effective from 2 May, 2023 (Tuesday) to the address below. HKRRLS’s telephone number, fax number and website will remain unchanged.
To read anytime anywhere with just “one device in hand”, the cutting-edge technology can facilitate local publishers and authors to promote their publications to international markets without language and geographical obstacles. With the support of the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM) of Innovation and Technology Commision and sponsored by the Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Hong Kong Publishing Federation (HKPF) organises the “Publishing 3.0 – HK Smart e-Book Hub” Scheme (“Pub3.0”), which combines the e-Book Publishing Conversion Platform and the Smart e-Book Hub to assist local publishers speeding up their digital transformation. Starting from today “4.23 World Book & Copyright Day”, the “Pub3.0” one-stop service portal (https://publishing3.hk) opens for publishers and authors to register, they can use the conversion platform and the portal for free. The conversion platform can convert Chinese paper publications into Chinese e-books, translate into English e-books and further convert into audiobooks in Cantonese, Putonghua and English. Furthermore, readers can access some e-books and audiobooks on the portal provided by publishers.
More than 40 publishers attended the “Pub3.0” sharing session.
A sharing session under “Pub3.0” for the publishing industry was held on 19 April (last Wednesday). Representatives from more than 40 local publishers attended the event including authors and editors. The participants and the organisers had in-depth discussion about the technological application and operation of the conversion platform. They have positive feedbacks to the Scheme and believe that the using of artificial intelligence systems (A.I.) can lower part of the production and time costs on text translation and conversion while facilitating Hong Kong publishers to explore markets in different regions.
Dr. Elvin LEE Ka-kui, President of HKPF and Chairman of “Pub3.0” Steering Committee, hopes that the “Pub3.0” Scheme can lower the production cost of e-books and audiobooks.
Dr. Elvin LEE Ka-kui, President of HKPF and Chairman of “Pub3.0” Steering Committee, said ‘the launch of the “Pub3.0” is just in a good time to catch on the growing trend in online reading habit. With the advanced technology, a lot of high quality content provided by Hong Kong publishers can be converted to a digital form easily. He encourages local publishers to take this opportunity to fully utilise the cutting-edge technology provided to speed up their digital transformation.
Mrs. Lowell CHO LAI Suk-ha, Assistant Head of CreateHK, encourages local authors and publishers to participate in the “Pub3.0 ” by submitting their books.
Mrs. Lowell CHO LAI Suk-ha, Assistant Head of CreateHK, thanks for HKPF and LSCM’s efforts in creating the conversion platform which combines technology and art, in response to the publishing industry’s demand. She encourages local authors and publishers to participate in the “Pub3.0 ” by submitting their books.
Dr. Sharon WONG Yin-yue, Chairwoman of HKRRLS and Executive Chairwoman (Administration) of “Pub3.0” Steering Committee, said that “Pub3.0” service portal will be promoted in different occasions this year including Hong Kong Book Fair in July and Hong Kong Pavilion at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany in October.
Dr. Sharon WONG Yin-yue, Executive Chairwoman (Administration) of “Pub3.0” Steering Committee, Chairwoman of Hong Kong Reprographic Rights Licensing Society (HKRRLS), expressed that the conversion platform has been built from the scratch and the system is constantly improving and upgrading to ensure qualities of machine translation and “text to speech” technology. After the official launch of the “Pub3.0” service portal, it will be promoted in different occasions this year including Hong Kong Book Fair in July and Hong Kong Pavilion at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany in October. In the long run, she hopes that the Scheme can facilitate the industry on copyright business so as to increase the sales of local publications which will be beneficial to readers eventually.
A series of local publications were collected by “Pub3.0” at the beginning of the Scheme and some of them are converted to e-books and audiobooks for interested parties to access on the “Pub3.0” one-stop service portal starting from today (23 April). To enrich and enlarge the e-Book Hub, HKPF hopes to recruit more publishers and authors to join the Scheme and to convert their publications through the conversion platform. At the same time, publishers can upload their books’ written information and audio descriptions to the service portal and nominate book categories for the e-Book Hub. The first phase of the recruitment to publishers is starting from today (23 April) till 30 June this year. Selected books in five categories including “Literature & Fiction”, “Living & Social Lives”, “Medical Healthcare”, “Finance & Business” and “History & Biography” to the e-Book Hub will be announced in July’s Hong Kong Book Fair and promoted in local and overseas events in the second half of this year.
Click on https://publishing3.hk for details of joining the “Publishing 3.0 – HK Smart e-Book Hub”
Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.
