The Li Ka Shing Foundation has donated HK$250,000 to sponsor ten episodes of Merry Bookworm, a television program produced by Radio Television Hong Kong to encourage more people to read. The program will be aired on both ATV Home and TVB Jade.

Mr. Li Ka-shing is a strong supporter of education and medical care. Forced to quit school at an early age, Mr. Li seized knowledge by studying in his spare time, reading many different kinds of books. Even today, Mr. Li continues to read before going to bed every night. Mr. Li believes that knowledge can change fate, and hopes that this program can encourage more people to take up reading. The Li Ka Shing Foundation has also donated books to local school and university libraries as well as to the media for distribution to their readers.

To complement the launch of this program, RTHK hosted a reading at the Hong Kong Central Library today for secondary students. Special guests included Dr. Patrick Ho, Secretary for Home Affairs; Mr. Cheung Man Sun, Assistant Director of Broadcasting; Mr. Sing Wang, Chief Executive Officer of TOM Group; Ms. Lu Ping, Director of Kwang Hwa Information & Culture Centre; Dr. Ma Ka-fai, program host; and singer Alex Fong.

Beginning on September 14, Merry Bookworm will be aired every Sunday at 3:55pm on ATV Home, and at 5:50pm on TVB Jade. The program will introduce books under different themes and two books will be recommended in each episode.

For further information, please contact: