Speaking at the kick-off ceremony, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Shelley Lee said the libraries have all along been committed to promoting reading by encouraging the public to make profitable use of their leisure time to read more books.

The organizers said a number of individuals and corporate donors have donated large quantity of books since the collect exercise started on Jan. 2.

In view of the enthusiastic response of the public last year, the period of book sale this year extends to two days.

All books are sold at five Hong Kong dollars each and the organizers announced all the proceeds will be donated to the Community Chest of Hong Kong.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2003)