In the digital age, the library has become something of a nostalgic institution, which makes the arrival of a floating one in Hong Kong rather intriguing.
The Doulos Hope, operated by GBA Ships, a Christian charity based in Germany, will be in Hong Kong from May 4-26, bringing with it a wide range of English-language titles. It follows the 2015 visit to the city by Logos Hope, another vessel operated by GBA Ships.
“We’ve got an awesome book fair with more than 2,000 titles, ranging from kids’ books to cookbooks, travel guides, faith-based reads, business resources, fiction and non-fiction,” says Doulos Hope spokeswoman Sarah Mueller.
“Our goal is to share the magic of books, empower people with knowledge and provide them with a source of inspiration, education and enjoyment.”
The fifth vessel in the charity’s fleet, the Doulos Hope was launched last year and has been sailing around Southeast Asia promoting literacy, education and cross-cultural cooperation.
The 85.5-metre-long, 14-metre-wide ship is berthed at Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, in Tsim Sha Tsui, and provides members of the Hong Kong public with a chance not only to browse its books but to meet the crew of 100 volunteers from 25 countries.
Community engagement is a big part of its Hong Kong visit, says Mueller.
“We will partner with various organisations such as [NGO] Ultimate United and the Praxis charity, to contribute to a range of humanitarian projects that make a difference in the community, including food distribution, assisting with farming tasks, visiting refugees and asylum seekers, and providing support for rehabilitation programmes,” Mueller says.
“By collaborating with these organisations, our aim is to share aid and bring hope and positive change to the lives of those in need.”
The ship has a strong link to Hong Kong. It was once operated by Genting Hong Kong’s Star Cruises, the gambling cruise firm that was owned by Malaysian billionaire Lim Kok Thay before it filed for bankruptcy in 2022 because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
All visitors must book tickets online, at thelittleboxoffice.com/douloshope, in advance and present proof of identity to board the ship.