HKBU presents Dream of the Red Chamber Award to novelist Ge Liang for Food is Heaven

22 November 2024
 Guests pose for a group photo with awardee Prof. Ge Liang


Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) presented the first prize of the 10th Dream of the Red Chamber Award to Professor Ge Liang for his novel Food is Heaven at the award ceremony held on 22 November 2024.  

The ceremony was officiated by Ms. Eve Tam, Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services of the HKSAR Government; Ms. Winsome Chow, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council; Professor Lawrence Zhang, representative of the Zhang Dapeng Endowment Fund; Ms. Zhao Ping, Deputy Chief Editor of People’s Literature Publishing House and Editor-in-charge of Food is Heaven; Mr. Yu Keling, Chief Editor and Deputy General Manager of the Joint Publishing HK; Mr. Chan Koon Chung, renowned writer; and Dr. Enoch Tam, President of Typesetter Publishing. Officiating guests and representatives of HKBU included Ir Professor Paul Poon, MH, Deputy Chairman of the Council and the Court; Professor Alex Wai, JP, President and Vice-Chancellor; Professor Ng Ching Fai, GBS, President Emeritus; Dr. Albert Chau, Vice-President (Teaching and Learning); Professor Daniel Lai, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; and Professor Chung Ling, Emeritus Professor of HKBU. Members of the HKBU Foundation attending this occasion included Professor Lee Chak Fun, GBM, GBS, JP; Dr. Chloe Suen; and Mrs. Lily Chan, Director of University Advancement and Secretary-General of the HKBU Foundation.

Professor Ge expressed his gratitude for the award, stating that his recent literary endeavours sought to explore the concrete expressions of traditional Chinese culture. Food is Heaven uses cuisine as an entry point, reflecting a realisation of Lingnan culture after years of observation. Please click here for Professor Ge Liang’s full address at the ceremony (Chinese version only).

Professor Chung Ling, Chairman of the judging panel of the 10th Dream of the Red Chamber Award, remarked that Food is Heaven meticulously and thoroughly depicts Cantonese and Shanghainese cuisines. The specifics of the dishes are seamlessly woven into the characters’ interactions and plot, presenting the tasting experience and the aesthetics of gastronomy in a natural manner, which demonstrates both breadth and depth.

After the ceremony, Professor Ge and Mr. Chan Koon Chung engaged in a discussion on the Lingnan culture, and the narrative and historical writing of Guangdong and Hong Kong during the “Writers in Dialogue” session. They shared insights on the relationship between their novel writing, Lingnan culture and Chinese culture, as well as their perspectives on Cantonese, Hong Kong and history writing.

The Dream of the Red Chamber Award, held biennially by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at HKBU, is sponsored by Mr. Zhang Dapeng, President of Y. Cee Chemicals Limited and Honorary Permanent Presidents of the HKBU Foundation. The award aims to reward and encourage the publication of excellent Chinese novels, thereby raising the standards and quality of Chinese novel writing worldwide. The winner of the first prize receives HK$300,000, a certificate, as well as a trophy designed by the artist Mr. Enoch Cheung.

 Prof. Ge Liang receives the first prize of the 10th Dream of the Red Chamber Award for his novel Food is Heaven
 (From left) Mrs. Joise Tan, Prof. Ng Ching Fai, Prof. Chung Ling, Prof. Alex Wai, Prof. Daniel Lai, Prof. Lawrence Zhang and Mrs. Lily Chan