Leng mo zone

ON the horn of a dilemma, the TradeDevelopment Council (TDC) has, through theagency of an advisory panel, banned leng mofrom having autograph sessions at the Book Fair. Itthought it could, by doing so, prevent them from"hijacking" the Book Fair and keep it as it had been.Judging from their defiance and media reports aboutthem, the TDC's plan has failed.

It is understandable that the TDC has attempted toreduce leng mo's impact on the Book Fair to save itsimage as a cultural event and protect mainstreamvisitors' interests. It allows their photobooks to be soldat the Book Fair, but it has banned their book signings.

However, it allows them to promote their photobooks inthe venue. Conceivably, the TDC wants to preventdisruptions their autograph sessions may causewithout being accused of curtailing the freedom ofpublication. However, it is clear from what happenedon the first day of the Book Fair that, thanks to the"halfway house", the TDC has fallen between twostools. Corridors were jammed whenever any leng moappeared. Mainstream visitors blamed the TDC forfailing to prevent leng mo from causing disruptions.

The only criterion for determining whether a lengmo activity is permissible at the Book Fair is whether itis legal. It is bound to arouse controversy to take anyother factor into consideration.

Some things leng mo do go too far to be inkeeping with the mainstream. Some do not want theirchildren to have access to any leng mo photobooks ortake part in any of their activities. Their views ought tobe respected. However, it is no solution to ban leng mofrom the Book Fair.

The best way to lessen leng mo's impact on theBook Fair is to keep their photobooks away from it. If itis not possible to do so, another way is to have a "lengmo zone" at the Book Fair. The zone should be at adistance from the main venue and have its ownentrances and exits. Leng mo would have autographsessions there, and their photobooks would bedisplayed and sold there. Then, mainstream Book Fairvisitors and leng mo fans would go where they pleaseand all would be satisfied.

The Hong Kong Book Fair, which upholds theprinciple of cultural diversity, tolerance, catholicity anduniversal appeal, has blossomed in splendour. At ittitles banned on the mainland are readily available,and mainland writers barred from Taiwan may holdbook signings. Considered by Chinese people from themainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau to be aspectacular cultural event, it draws large numbers ofChinese visitors from the mainland and other parts ofthe world.

The Book Fair has opened this year.Arrangements that have been made can hardly bealtered. We hope that, when it makes preparations forthe next Book Fair, the TDC will no longer be fetteredby what is called morals. It should focus onmanagement issues and set up a "leng mo zone"where leng mo may engage in activities and sell theirphotobooks. The zone would surely be anotherattraction of the Book Fair, which would become evenmore spectacular.　

明報英語網「雙語社評」

english.mingpao.com/critic.htm

使模成為書展一道風景線，豈不善哉？

明報社評

2010.07.22

身陷兩難之局的貿易發展局借助顧問團之手，不准模在書展會場內辦簽名會，以為可以避免書展被模「騎劫」，還書展本來面目，不過，從模的抗爭和傳媒報道看來，貿發局的如意算盤未能打響。

貿發局着意保護書展的文化形象、顧及書展主流顧客的利益，盡量減低模對書展的影響，出發點可以理解；但是貿發局容許寫真集在會場擺賣，封殺簽名會排拒模之餘，卻又容許她們進入書展會場促銷，貿發局的盤算，相信是不欲蒙上打壓出版自由的污名，又收到避免簽名活動滋擾其他人的效果。但是，證諸書展首日，這個中間落墨做法，實際上兩頭不討好，模出現仍然使會場途為之塞，主流顧客則怪責貿發局未能杜絕模所引發滋擾。

其實，模與書展的關係，法律應該是檢視模寫真集與其活動的唯一標準，法律以外的其他考慮，必然引發爭議。

模一些行徑過於出位，與社會主流取向有所扞格，部分家長也不欲子女接觸到模寫真集及活動，這些意見必須尊重。但是封殺絕非解決問題的方法。

貿發局要消除模對書展的影響，最理想是把模寫真集自書展剝離。若未能徹底使模剝離書展，則在書展設立「模寫真集與相關活動專區」，也是解決問題之道。專區與書展主場明確區隔，設在會展較偏遠之處，人流進出也與主場分開，寫真集在專區銷售，模在其間辦簽名會。這樣的話，書展主流顧客與模粉絲各適其適，皆大歡喜。

香港書展一直憑着文化多元、包容並蓄、雅俗共賞的大原則，在兩岸三地大放異彩，在內地被禁書籍，可以在這裏輕易找到，無法踏足台灣的大陸作家，在這裏可以為讀者簽名，所以，香港書展已經成為華人世界的文化盛事，吸引着內地和其他地方的華人來訪。

這一屆書展已經開幕，現行安排難以改動，我們希望貿發局下一屆不應再囿於所謂道德層面，應該單從管理着手，設立「模寫真集與相關活動專區」，使模寫真集和其活動成為書展另一道風景線，則香港書展會更放異彩。

G lossary

halfway house

something that has some feature of one thingand some features of another.

fall between two stools

fail to get either of two choices, both of whichwould be acceptable.

mainstream

ideas and opinions that are thought to be normalbecause they are shared by most people.