We need to give old and used books a chance to find a new home

Earlier this month, Hong Kong's Office of the Ombudsman noted "hundreds of thousands" of books from public libraries have ended up in the refuse bin. One imagines these have either been subject to much wear and tear from frequent borrowing or never borrowed at all. In a city where space never seems adequate, or affordable, we keep discarding the stuff that looks old and out of fashion. While in most evolved cultures books tend to acquire greater value as they become older and rarer, evidently that's not how it always is in Hong Kong. I picked up near-intact copies of Will Durant's The Story of Philosophy, James Joyce's The Dubliners and Antony Wild's The East India Company from a heap dumped on Lockhart Road one night. The last of these costs $97.95 for a used copy on Amazon.

Hong Kong's lack of sensitivity toward old books should not come as a total surprise though. After all, this is a city that ranks among the highest producers of per capita waste (1.39 kilograms of solid waste per day). Last week, when the mainland recyclers struck work briefly, refusing to accept waste sent across from Hong Kong unless it was sorted into different categories, the trash - bound and ready for the recycling plants across the waters - began staggering upward, the dystopian bleakness of the scene was like a body-blow to a city that takes pride in its waterfront. Luckily the strike was called off earlier than expected. Although the looming disaster that could have created serious health issues has been averted for the time being, the incident proved Hong Kong isn't the biggest champion of recycling.

Still, books probably deserve to be treated with a little more respect than a Styrofoam lunch box, casually chucked into a garbage receptacle after use. There are sporadic attempts in pockets of Hong Kong to encourage people to pick up books once owned by others, like the annual weekend book exchange held in Youth Square, Chai Wan last month. Also some kind-hearted people have been bringing out part of their personal collection, putting up bookracks in public spaces. One such in Sai Ying Pun had to be removed because its placement interfered with government regulations. However, a few of these are still around, standing in Sai Ying Pun, Tin Shui Wai and Lamma Island, waiting for newer readers to find them.

To initiate a real attitudinal shift toward caring for old and used books we probably need a more organized effort and a dedicated space. The two successful models that come to mind are the weekend book mart in Georges Brassens Park in Paris, where recycled books are spread out under an open-roofed wooden structure that used to be an abattoir for horses and the Southbank Centre Book Market under the Waterloo Bridge, down by the River Thames in London. Although rather touristy in their appeal, both destinations usually serve up a fine selection of titles.

As the plan to redevelop Site 3 of the New Central Harbourfront on reclaimed land from Jardine House to Central Ferry Piers gathers momentum, I would like to see a space in it reserved for books that may no longer be new to the touch. If shopping for high-end luxury goods and fine dining could help subsidize the costs of running a recycled book mart and help find old books a new home, no one should be complaining.

Come for a fun weekend outdoors. Take back a piece of history.

(HK Edition 09/25/2017 page10)