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‘China Dream’ Author Barred by Hong Kong Literary Festival Venue

  • Ma Jian was due to speak at arts venue funded by Jockey Club
  • Writer’s new novel satirizes Xi Jinping’s Chinese Dream slogan
The Tai Kwun complex.

The Tai Kwun complex.

Photographer: Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images

Updated on

The author of a novel critical of President Xi Jinping’s slogan touting the Chinese Dream said he has been barred from speaking at the main venue of the Hong Kong International Literary Festival.

The writer, Ma Jian, said he was told that the Tai Kwun arts complex had canceled his two events scheduled for Saturday. While Ma said he wasn’t given any explanation, he has previously complained about censorship of his works, including “China Dream,” a new book satirizing one of Xi’s signature campaigns.