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More Chinese reading online, but fewer willing to pay

A survey conducted by the Youth Research Center of Hong Kong Youth Federation revealed a glimpse of the change in reading habits among young people.

Of the 522 interviewees, aged between 10 and 24, a majority were reading digitally, with 75 percent of them reading on cellphones, while the second most commonly used medium was desktop computers, followed by tablets. Almost half of the interviewees said they took part in e-reading because it was convenient.

The survey also showed that each reader spent an average 86 minutes per day on e-reading. The largest percentage of interviewees found "free download" the most appealing feature of digital reading.

But interestingly, printed material was the most popular reading medium among the young readers, with close to 40 percent voting for it, while 37 percent preferred reading through cellphones.

Chan Shui-ching, head of the youth research center, says that while rapid development of digital technology, which allows faster and more convenient downloads of electronic materials, can enrich the reading experience, young people should be prudent when choosing e-reading material and avoid unhealthy choices.

"It is not a matter of choosing from electronic books or printed books," says Ngan Shun-kau, editorial consultant of Cosmos Books, a major publisher in Hong Kong. But cellphones, Facebook, Twitter and the like are occupying a lot of young people's time, and they are becoming more prone to read in a "fast and shallow way", he adds.