HKPL Announces 2026 Summer Library Festival: "Happiness Trains - Discovering Treasures of the Soul" Themed Activities in July and August

Summer Library Festival 2026 to discover treasures of soul in reading

The Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will launch the Summer Library Festival (SLF) 2026 under the theme "Happiness Trains - Discovering Treasures of the Soul" in July and August. The HKPL will offer a series of fascinating reading activities, talks, workshops, an online programme, creative handicrafts and outreach activities, and more, along with a variety of recommended reading materials, to encourage readers to discover treasures of the soul, cultivate a positive mindset and let happiness become a nourishing part of life.

Storytelling workshops under the themes "Train of Harmony", "Train of Dream" and "Train of Discovery" will be held at various public libraries, combining stories, games, conversations and creative activities, guiding parents and children to find happiness in their hearts and mind, in society and everyday life. At the same time, parents will learn how to use stories to understand and communicate with their children to build harmonious family relationships. The storytelling workshops will be conducted in Cantonese, Putonghua or English.

Parent-child workshops will be held at public libraries in various districts, including making dried flower night lamps, creative pipe cleaner flower wreaths, wishing bottles, pencil box decorations and cat paw-shaped squishy toys. Through focusing on the creative process, participants can relieve stress, learn to discover and feel happiness in everyday life.

Parents and children can also participate together in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) workshops to create marine life with a 3D printing pen or models of celestial bodies to develop creativity and problem-solving thinking, while learning scientific knowledge. Hand-painted planet lamps and crewel embroidery workshops are available for teenaged and adult readers to experience turning their creativity and emotions into unique works of art.

In collaboration with Q plus A Art Foundation, the HKPL will organise outreach activities at the Stone Houses Family Garden, located at a Grade III historic building in Kowloon City, on July 25 and 26. Activities include guided tours and workshops at the sensory-inclusive "Bus A", for participants to explore happiness with sensory experiences through touch, sight, and sound. Guided tours of the historic building at the Stone Houses Family Garden, as well as Story Ambassador storytelling sessions will also be arranged at the venue.

In addition, singer-song writer, actress and sound therapist Jocelyn Chan will host the Reading × Sound Experiential Workshops on July 18 and 19 at Yau Ma Tei Public Library and Tiu Keng Leng Public Library respectively to guide participants in learning about the application of sound in reading. She will also perform a Cantonese song incorporating sound healing.

The HKPL will also launch an online programme series with the theme "Finding Happiness in the Journey to Space". In the series, transmedia astronomy educator Exodus Sit will share the five elements to maintain happiness using his knowledge and experience in STEAM and astronomy. The programme videos will be uploaded onto the HKPL YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/hkplgovhkchannel), the LCSD Edutainment Channel (www.lcsd.gov.hk/edutainment/en) and the programme website of SLF 2026 (www.hkpl.gov.hk/slf-en).

Public libraries in Kwun Tong District, Sham Shui Po District, Yau Tsim Mong District, North District, Tuen Mun District, Yuen Long District, Islands District and Wan Chai District will also organise various activities including cultural experience workshops, thematic photo-taking areas, STEAM workshops, library ambassador programmes, various subject talks, and more.

All activities are free of charge. Seat reservations are required for some of the programmes. For details, please visit the SLF 2026 website. Members of the public can also visit the "Reading is Joyful" Facebook page (www.facebook.com/readingisjoyful) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/readingisjoyful) for more information on different events of the HKPL.

The Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will launch the Summer Library Festival 2026 under the theme "Happiness Trains - Discovering Treasures of the Soul" in July and August. A series of fascinating activities will be held, including crewel embroidery workshops. Photo shows a demonstration work example of the workshops. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will launch the Summer Library Festival 2026 under the theme "Happiness Trains - Discovering Treasures of the Soul" in July and August. A series of fascinating activities will be held, including the guided tours and workshops at the sensory-inclusive "Bus A" and other outreach activities at the Stone Houses Family Garden in Kowloon City in collaboration with Q plus A Art Foundation. Photo shows the sensory-inclusive "Bus A". (Source: Q plus A Art Foundation) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will launch the Summer Library Festival 2026 under the theme "Happiness Trains - Discovering Treasures of the Soul" in July and August. A series of fascinating activities will be held, including hand-painted planet lamp workshops. Photo shows a demonstration work example of the workshops. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will launch the Summer Library Festival 2026 under the theme "Happiness Trains - Discovering Treasures of the Soul" in July and August. A series of fascinating activities will be held, including Cat Paw-shaped Squishy Toys parent-child workshops. Photo shows a demonstration work example of the workshops. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will launch the Summer Library Festival 2026 under the theme "Happiness Trains - Discovering Treasures of the Soul" in July and August. A series of fascinating activities will be held, including Dried Flower Night Lamps parent-child workshops. Photo shows a demonstration work example of the workshops. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by SLW at Pui Kiu College 16th Graduation Ceremony

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, at the Pui Kiu College 16th Graduation Ceremony today (July 3):

Before I conclude, since this is going to be a bilingual ceremony, I just want to say a few words in English because I never imagined I would speak English to all of you in the Pui Kiu graduation ceremony. I just do not want to waste that chance, because it means the start of a new chapter for our school and for all our students.

In my time, the greatest challenge for all students was English because we had Chinese as the medium of education. For me, it was a very steep learning curve to learn English and to be able to compete with all those English colleges. But I just want to show you, with my own example, that you will be able to do great things if you just try your very best and realise your full potential.

So here, my congratulations to all the graduates. I urge you all to make the best of yourselves, and once again, my best wishes to you all. Thank you very much!

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the speech.)

Source: AI-found images