Bulletin Spring 1979

(1) Books in Chinese studies. We have pub­ lished some eighty titles covering all aspects o f Chinese culture: language and literature, philosophy, history, archaeo logy, arts, economics, as well as medical sciences. (2) Books o f regional relevance. We have devoted much o f our attention to pub lishing books o f significance to Hong Kong, China and Southeast Asia, the most note-worthy o f which is the monu mental Kwang Tung Wen Cheng (Works by Kwangtung Authors), in 6 volumes. (3) Books related to the cultural interflow between China and other countries. These include translations o f works o f impor tance into and from Chinese; linguistics studies o f the Chinese and English lan guages and comparative literature studies. Q. What has the Chinese University Press achieved during this year's operation? A. During the year, we have exerted ourselves on four fronts: publication, sales promotion, inventory control and international cooperation. Publication: Forty titles are scheduled for publication this year, comparable to the output o f a medium-sized American university press, which ranges from 20 to 75 titles ayear. Sales promotion: So far, sales o f our Chinese books are small locally, and the market for our English books even smaller. To promote the sales o f our publications, we have set up a retail network o f twenty-odd bookstores locally and, overseas, we have appointed univer­ sity presses as our distribution agents, advertised in scholarly journals, participated in exhibitions, and regularly mailed to our clients promotion brochures, etc. We have also compiled amaster mailing lis t- comprising names and addresses o f our clients (institutions as well as individuals) and obtained lists o f the names and addresses of members o f such learned societies as Japan's Toho Gakkai, European Association o f Sinologists, USA's Botanical Society, Society for the Study of Southern and Northern Dynasties, and of univer­ sity bookstores and libraries abroad. We launch at least two promotion campaigns a year, every time sending out 8,000 or more copies o f seasonal catalogues to potential clients. The Press is also gradually breaking into the markets o f neighbouring countries: Taiwan publishers have approached us for authorization to reprint some of our books, six Japanese bookstores have placed standing orders for our books, and orders are coming in from Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries. In fact, we are trying hard to explore the Taiwan, Main land China, Japan, Singapore and Southeast Asia markets and to build up a larger network o f retail outlets in the region. Inventory control: Twice a year, we check the stock and review the sales and prices o f our books, so that reprints may be available in time to meet demands and prices may be adjusted as necessary. International cooperation: I attended the annual meeting o f the Association o f American University Presses this Spring w ith Mr. George Kao ， our honorary representative in USA, and established valuable contacts w ith many univer­ sity presses and commercial publishers which should help further our co-operation w ith them and help increase the sales o f our books in the States. We are also building up closer contacts and looking forward to more cooperation w ith university presses in England, France and other European countries. Q. What is the most significant achievement o f the Chinese University Press since its establishment? A. Despite its short history, the Chinese University Press is becoming widely known. Quite a number o f unsolicited manuscripts have been sent to us, a number o f university presses have proposed to us co-publication projects, and orders are regularly coming in from libraries and bookstores abroad-all these are solid proofs o f the recognition accorded us by over­ seas scholars and institutions. But, strictly speaking, this canhardly be called achievements, we need at least a decade or so more to really establish ourselves and make a name for the Press. I would consider it a success only if the Chinese University Press is recognized by the international academic world as the publisher o f books in Chinese studies. I may be too ambitious, but, anyway, we have made a good start. 10