Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited’s SHKP Reading Club actively promotes the joy of reading in primary and secondary schools, and caters for the different needs of teachers regarding reading promotion through its Read & Share programme. During the previous school year, the SHKP Reading Club organized 146 activities for about 40,000 teachers and students. To celebrate the fruitful results, an award presentation ceremony was held recently to acknowledge the efforts of the schools, teachers and students who participated in the programme, and to announce new initiatives for the coming school year.

This year, 71 teachers and students received the Outstanding Performance Awards in recognition of their excellent performance or progress in promoting reading and participating in reading activities in the previous year. Shek Wu Hui Public School in Sheung Shui received the Most Active Participation Award for their enthusiastic support of the programme for the 2018-2019 school year. The Read & Share programme also encouraged students to unleash their creativity through a writing competition themed 'My Invention', which received over 1,400 entries. The Gold Award winner in the junior primary category, Wong Kin-nam from Hong Kong And Macau Lutheran Church Ming Tao Primary School, cited his missing teeth, an experience that resonates with many children of the same age, as the inspiration behind his invention, a 'Magic Denture Sticker for Children'. The Gold Award winner in the senior primary category, Leung Hang-miu from Po Leung Kuk Castar Primary School, came up with the idea of a 'Healing Sticker', with an all-purpose repair function after participating in volunteer activities. She said she hoped her invention would help elderly singletons repair damaged furniture and electrical appliances. 

SHKP Reading Club has partnered with the Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association (HKAPSHA) to organize the Read & Share programme since 2014. In the past five years, the programme has held 470 interesting interactive activities in 189 primary and secondary schools. Activities include writer sharing sessions, creative workshops, off-campus visits and mobile bookshelves, creating a joyful reading experience for more than 130,000 teachers and students.

During the previous school year, 23 writers and celebrities were invited to SHKP Reading Club reading activities on school campuses: HKAPSHA Honorary Chairman Leung Siu-tong; singer-songwriter Hanjin Tan; STEM education expert Tang Man-hon (a.k.a. STEM Sir); university lecturers and guest hosts on the TV programme 'Sidewalk Scientist' Dr Jason Chan (a.k.a. Dr Fire) and Dr Dominic Tong; director of Weather Underground of Hong Kong Clarence Fong; sci-fi author Albert Tam; CRHK radio host Vincent Wong; founder of an AI technologies start-up Thomas Wong; youth magazine editor Ng Tsz-ning; online fiction writer Middle; travel veterans James Hong, Sharpe Law, Linus Cheng, Daniel Cheung, Jamie Cheung and Rubio Chan; and SHKP Young Writers' Debut Competition winners Matthew Cheng, Suki Yu, Tong Yui, Fontane Yiu, Brown White and Lam Siu-lung. A number of international exchange students from AFS Intercultural Exchanges also took part in the Read & Share programme to interact with local students, broadening their worldview and enhancing their knowledge of the English reading world.

In the new school year, the Read & Share programme will return with a brand-new look, using more direct and flexible ways to help teachers promote reading at school.  The programme is designed for primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, and all activities are free of charge.

About the SHKP Reading Club

SHKP believes in Building Homes with Heart while promoting reading and holistic development.  The Group established the SHKP Reading Club in 2013 to consolidate its reading-related initiatives such as seminars by renowned speakers and guided cultural tours to inspire more people to enjoy reading and make it a habit.  Those interested in becoming a member are welcome to register for free at: www.shkpreadingclub.com.