2025 marks the 150th anniversary of the passing of renowned Danish fairy tale author, Hans Christian Andersen. His classic tales including The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, and The Little Match Girl, have been translated into over 150 languages, inspiring and enhancing the imagination of children around the world for generations. To honour Andersen’s contributions to literature, encourage the public to explore and understand the deeper meanings behind his classic tales, and explain their significance in today’s world, the School of Humanities and Social Science (SHSS) has organised a series of activities that will take place throughout the academic year, including radio programmes, writing competitions, workshops, an international conference and seminars. Through the series of activities, HSUHK will further promote Andersen’s works and their educational and literary value globally.

Professor Tam Kwok-kan, Dean of SHSS, stated that Andersen’s creative output extends beyond fairy tales and includes poetry as well as origami. His works advocate for “truth, goodness, and beauty”, possessing rich educational significance and literary value. He also believes that Andersen’s stories have evolved from Western literature into a part of Asian culture, being quoted and adapted into various forms such as cartoons, children’s dramas, plays, and films. Professor Tam believes that this evolution could develop into an independent creative industry that includes a themed Andersen Park and children’s theatres, which reconstruct Asian culture through foreign elements.

Dr Anna Tso, Head of the Department of English and a key organiser of these initiatives, believes that Andersen’s works embody humanistic, religious, and philosophical themes that are worthy of adult contemplation. She said, “Many perceive Andersen’s works as merely children’s literature, but take The Little Match Girl as an example, it is a piece that inspires readers to give, reflecting Andersen’s Christian perspective. The Emperor’s New Clothes reveals human vanity.” In The Ugly Duckling, the titular character, after leaving home, is persuaded by other animals to abandon its dreams of flight. However, the ugly duckling’s perseverance leads to the fulfilment of its aspirations. “Each of us can unleash a little universe within ourselves. We should not be discouraged even if our circumstances do not permit. Adults who revisit these works after life experiences will certainly gain new insights,” explained Dr Tso.

To promote Andersen’s fairy tales to the public, Dr Tso applied for a community involvement broadcasting service with RTHK to produce “The Fairy Tale World of Andersen”, which consisted of 13 half-an-hour episodes. Aired from January to March 2025, the programme featured teachers and students from the Department of English who read excerpts from Andersen’s fairy tales and shared their reflections on Andersen’s literary work.

Winola Lam, Year 3 student from the Department of English, who participated in the broadcast production, has loved fairy tales since childhood. She recalled her early experience reading The Ugly Duckling, when she had only a partial understanding of its deeper message. “At that time, I simply thought The Ugly Duckling taught us not to judge others by their appearance, but upon re-reading it as an adult, I realised that the story encourages the pursuit of dreams.” Winola elaborated that Andersen’s works contain profound meanings that are often absent from children’s picture books. By hosting “The Fairy Tale World of Andersen”, she engaged in the deep intricacies of Andersen’s stories, significantly broadening her perspective and enriching her understanding.