Notice of Fee Allocation for The Programme (2023-2026)
The ‘The Programme for the Promotion of Local Publications and Reading Culture’ (hereinafter referred to as the “The Programme”) aims to support local authors and publications and to encourage the development and utilization of electronic platforms by the local publishing sector, as well as promote a quality reading culture in Hong Kong.
The Programme includes the launch of a new local book data database, providing digitized images of book cover, summaries/annotations and other such materials on locally published titles in the collection of the Hong Kong Public Libraries, and to link it to the online catalogue of the Hong Kong Public Libraries in order to display more comprehensive and detailed bibliographic information for the convenience of readers accessing library collections. The corresponding database and webpage were launched in April 2020, listing selected locally published titles. The Programme also provides promotional materials for local authors and publications, so that the library can promote meaningful reading recommendations, as well as supports the engagement of local authors to participate in major library promotion events as part of enhancing the reading culture.
The Hong Kong Reprographic Rights Licensing Society acts as the executive agency for the Programme. Through its collaboration with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, it is hoped that the publishing sector can deliver more of the bibliographic and promotional materials that will encourage members of the public to read more locally published books and enjoy a wider range of library services. So far, publishers participating in The Programme have provided some 80,000 bibliographic materials in the local book data database for readers’ reference.
The Programme will last for three years, from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2026, with funding from the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Publishing organisations only need to provide bibliographic information for titles published in Hong Kong that are included in the collection of the Hong Kong Public Libraries, and every year during the period they can receive Programme Fee on a per title basis through the Programme.
According to the current distribution scheme, the fee amount/allocation will be divided into two categories according to public library loan rate in the year. Category A: for more popular titles with annual loan tier record ranked 1st to 20,000th, HKD $240 per title per year. Category B: for less popular titles with annual loan tier record ranked 20,001st and after, HKD $70 per title per year. For each title, the payment share between the publishing organisation and the author is 50:50. Participating publishing organisations are responsible for distributing the Programme Fee received to the concerned authors.
Additionally, the “Promotion Programme” has also introduced e-book funding. Local electronic books provided by publishing organizations, once accepted by the Hong Kong Public Library, will be made available for a limited period through the Hong Kong Public Library Multimedia Information System. Each e-book will have a minimum reading period of one term (three months per term). An allocation of HK$1,200 per e-book per term can be obtained, with the payment share between the publishing organization and the respective authors at a ratio of 50:50 for each title.
Publishing organisations that have not yet participated in the project are welcome to support The Programme to promote a quality reading culture in Hong Kong. For further details of The Programme, please visit www.hkrrls.org.hk, call 25166268, or email info@hkrrls.org.hk for enquiries.
The Hong Kong Reprographic Rights Licensing Society