On 1st April, 2026, hosted by Interim Master Prof. Garry Wong, Choi Kai Yau College held its first book signing event. Three local book authors were invited to share personal insights into their writing processes, book content, and journeys, engaging nearly twenty student participants, with a lively discussion and a signing session, spending a pleasant coffee-lunch break together.
During the event, each author presented one of their recent published books, theming Macau’s history, culture, or development: Prof. Tim Simpson, Associate Professor of Communication at UM Faculty of Social Sciences, opened with his reflections on Macau’s development in the gambling industry and revolutionary changes from early 2000s. His book, Betting on Macau, uncovers the various roots of the territory’s lucrative casino capitalism, and offers a conceptual framework for understanding Macau’s revolution within a world-historical context. Prof. Maggie Hoi, Associate Professor of Pharmacology at UM Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, and Mr. Christopher Chu, Editor of Macao News, who are a married couple in real life, and the co-authors of Macau’s Historical Flavors and Macau’s Historical Witnesses, shared their two books about Macau – one told through food, the other through landmarks. The books unveil the city’s seen and unseen beauty and are available in local libraries and tourist hotels.
The interaction between authors and readers was lively and warm, filling with joy and laughter. Prof. Simpson highlighted his book content with colorful handouts, featuring the legendary figures and iconic elements of Macau’s gambling history, while Mr. Chu humorously noted that his short stories in the books are short enough to finish in a bathroom visit.
The authors signed copies of their books and donated copies to CKYC library. Staff from the UM library graced the event with their presence and provided additional books for students to checkout. The College coffee club, Aftertaste, supplied refreshments to facilitate discussion, enriching the intellectual atmosphere of residential college life.
The event concluded smoothly and created an “outside-the-book” connection between the authors and the student readers, engaging every participant with a deeper understanding of the authors’ perspectives about their works to a new level. CKYC looks forward to hosting more activities to bring different kinds of reading experiences to the College students.