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Seventh Belt and Road Summit draws to successful close

  • Event attracts 19,000+ participants, bringing government and business leaders together to facilitate project matching

The seventh Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded yesterday (1 September). Continuing in the tradition of being a formal, substantial and high-quality event, the summit saw state leaders and senior officials, regional government leaders and business leaders gathered to explore the business potential of the Belt and Road Initiative, and to drive synergies and create a win-win situation through multilateral collaborations such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The seventh Belt and Road Summit, which ran under the theme “Heralding a New Chapter: Collaborate and Innovate”, attracted more than 80 government and business leaders to share their insights.
More than 19,000 participants from over 80 countries and regions attended online or in-person.
The 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, Aswin Techajareonvikul, CEO and President of Berli Jucker PCL, Liu Liange, Chairman of the Bank of China, and Rod Eddington, Chairman of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, JP Morgan’s Asia Pacific Advisory Council and Non-Executive Chairman of Lion shared their insights at Business Plenary “Collaborate for a Bright New Era”.

As one of the major celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, the summit saw more than 80 senior government officials and business leaders from the Belt and Road region gathered to share their insights under the theme “Heralding a New Chapter: Collaborate and Innovate”. For the first time, the summit was held in a hybrid format, overcoming geographical boundaries by allowing those who were unable to attend in person to participate virtually. More than 19,000 attendees representing over 80 countries and regions participated online or at the physical event.

More than 800 one-to-one matching sessions
The business matching and project pitching sessions at the summit remained popular among project owners and attendees. More than 280 investment projects from the Belt and Road region and beyond were presented at the summit, covering four main areas, namely: (1) energy, natural resources and public utilities; (2) innovation and technology; (3) urban development; and (4) transportation and logistics infrastructure. The projects focused on areas such as smart city development, data centres and e-commerce related investments. More than 800 one-to-one business matching meetings were arranged for project owners, investors and professional service providers to pave the way for collaboration agreements.

Real opportunities in RCEP but some challenges
Multilateral collaboration creates more frequent cross-border trade and investment, and is becoming more important than ever in driving a strong recovery in the Asia-Pacific region following the pandemic. The RCEP, which came into effect this year, stands as the largest free trade agreement in history, accounting for 30% of the world’s population and GDP. Combined with the joint effort of more than 180 countries connected through the Belt and Road Initiative, it will further strengthen regional economic integration around the world. In the Business Plenary titled “Collaborate for a Bright New Era”, business leaders from economies along the Belt and Road and the RCEP shared their insights and explored how these initiatives and agreements can complement each other to drive strong economic growth and promote cross-border collaboration between businesses of all sizes.

The 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, shared his views on the RCEP. “One of the things that are challenged is the supply chains. China is a really a huge market, and we source a lot of goods from China. We can see the impact the breaking down of those supply chains has had on global inflation.”

Aswin Techajareonvikul, Chief Executive Officer and President of Berli Jucker Public Company Limited, shared that the Thailand enterprises have well received the potential of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). “It is in tune with our 20-year strategy and Thailand’s ongoing projects for economic development under the Thailand 4.0 economic model. We are able to expand trade and investment to our neighbouring countries. We can also better link with the world market, especially for the CLMV countries [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam].”

Liu Liange, Chairman of the Bank of China, said: “Most of the members in the RCEP are located in important junctions along the Belt and Road. This not only fosters connectivity between value chains and supply chains, but also further expands the ‘social circle’ of the Belt and Road Initiative, engaging more countries and businesses in the construction of the Belt and Road and in broader collaboration, as well as forming the dual-engine of the Belt and Road Initiative and RCEP within the region.”

Belt and Road Initiative drives consumption and Infratech development
Global economies are pushing to achieve post-pandemic economic recovery. At the same time, countries around the world are striving to build stronger global business connections with the help of macro measures such as the BRI, the RCEP and the GBA development.

The demand for high-quality, innovative and sustainable infrastructure around the world has given rise to many new business opportunities. These innovative projects will be led and driven by visionary industry leaders as they usher in a new era of infrastructure development. In the “Faster, Greater Infrastructure” session of the thematic group discussions, business leaders who had turned futuristic concepts into reality and envisioned some of the world’s most important infrastructure projects exchanged their views.

Founder and Managing Director of Emaar Properties and Founder and Director of Noon.com, HE Mohamed Ali Rashed Alabbar, said: “I really believe that a link such as the Belt and Road Initiative and its effects on human life, economic progress, quality of life, job creation and exchange of cultures and knowledge and unity to the world – it is going to be incredible.”

Chief Marketing Officer of Hyperloop TT Robert Miller addressed the current trends in infrastructure technology (infratech) development. “Infratech is really underfunded and underdeveloped. Hyperloop really falls into the category of infratech where there is a longer time to profitability. So we need patient investors from both public and private sectors. Meanwhile, governments everywhere are looking at reducing carbon emissions. One of the biggest polluters is the transportation industry: 23% of all carbon emissions worldwide come from transportation. Europe, the United States and countries in Asia are all looking how to decarbonise the transportation industry. Hyperloop TT could be a massive driver in that decarbonisation,” he said.

The seventh Belt and Road Summit was made possible by its Strategic Partner, China International Capital Corporation (CICC); Regional Banking Partner, Bank of China (Hong Kong); and Platinum Sponsors, China Mobile International and China Unicom.

Image download: https://bit.ly/3edlV6t

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries
Please contact HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Agnes Yiu, Tel: +852 3428 5690, email: ayiu@yuantung.com.hk
Tiffany Leung, Tel: +852 3428 2361, email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk
Wong Hing-fung, Tel: +852 3428 3122, email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hk

Seventh Belt and Road Summit opens today

Win-win hybrid format overcomes limits of geography

The seventh Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today (31 August). This year’s event lasts two days and runs in a hybrid physical and digital format, helping overcome geographical boundaries. Business leaders unable to attend the summit in person at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) join all sessions online and identify potential business opportunities through the online platform. Participants and guest speakers at the physical summit can actively interact during the event as more than 80 government and business leaders share their insights and explore opportunities the Belt and Road Initiative presents.

The seventh Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and HKTDC, opened today (31 August), with the theme “Heralding a New Chapter: Collaborate and Innovate”.
In his welcome remarks, Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: “With innovation driving progress, the Belt and Road Initiative provides the framework to apply these innovations to create a sustainable future.”
The Policy Dialogue Session analysed how economies under the Belt and Road Initiative can strengthen cooperation and boost economic growth through infrastructure development and trade under “Driving Growth through Partnership and Collaboration”.

As the first major international event following celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, the summit runs under the theme “Heralding a New Chapter: Collaborate and Innovate”. Project owners and operators, investors and service providers can explore opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) development and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) through a variety of activities, including the Policy Dialogue, plenary sessions, thematic breakout sessions, one-to-one project matching and project pitching sessions and a virtual exhibition, creating a multi-win situation that will help boost economic growth in the region. Activities today are held both online and offline while tomorrow (1 September) will be entirely online.

In this morning’s opening session, Dr Peter K N Lam, HKTDC Chairman, delivered welcoming remarks. John Lee, HKSAR Chief Executive, delivered the opening address. Han Zheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, delivered the keynote speech. Wang Wentao, Minister, Ministry of Commerce, the People’s Republic of China; Hao Peng, Chairman, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), the People’s Republic of China and Lin Nianxiu, Vice Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission, the People’s Republic of China, delivered special addresses while Zhang Xiangchen, Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization, gave a keynote address.

Mr Lee said in his opening speech: “The global rise of protectionism has reminded us of how important regional co-operation is. We have to work together for the better future of the region. Hong Kong is therefore very pleased to see the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, come into force earlier this year. The landmark agreement underlines the open, inclusive, rules-based trade and investment partnership that RCEP’s member states are committed to realising. We believe that regional economic integration is an essential complement to multilateral trade. Hong Kong is seeking early accession to RCEP. It will enable us to deepen the collaboration and connections we enjoy with our close partners. The Belt and Road was created to build connectivity, to bring business, and people, together. No one does that better than Hong Kong, thanks to our ‘one country, two systems’ principle; thanks to our longstanding East-meets-West experience and the boundless opportunities afforded us in national development.”

Delivering the keynote speech, Mr Han said: “Hong Kong is an active participant, contributor and beneficiary of the Belt and Road Initiative. We are pleased to see that since the initiative launched, Hong Kong has actively negotiated and signed cooperation agreements with co-construction countries, developing trade and investment cooperation, service standard connection, international financial cooperation and exchange between people. Hong Kong plays an important role in Belt and Road development, as well as expanding its own development space. Hong Kong deserves full recognition for its work in this area. The Central Authorities will adhere to the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ in the long run, fully supporting Hong Kong in maintaining its unique status and advantages. Authorities fully support Hong Kong’s active participation in and contribution to the Belt and Road development.”

Addressing the opening session, Mr Zhang said: “The COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, climate change and anti-globalization sentiment are the four major factors that I believe could affect the reshaping of the landscape of global trade policies. It is very challenging but can still be managed well if the whole world works together. To address these challenges, I strongly encourage enhanced dialogue and cooperation between all governments to find collective solutions because none of these challenges can be addressed by one government alone. Global challenges require global solutions.”

Dr Lam said: “The HKTDC is honoured to have Vice Premier Han Zheng deliver an important keynote speech at today’s summit, giving a more specific illustration of Hong Kong’s role as an active participant, contributor and beneficiary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Following President Xi Jinping’s important speech on 1 July, the Vice Premier’s ‘Four Hopes’ for Hong Kong’s participation in the construction of the Belt and Road further highlighted the direction of the city’s development. The HKTDC has always been committed to promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and development opportunities. The team and I will continue our efforts to promote Hong Kong as an international business platform and services hub and contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative.”

Multipartite cooperation to promote economic growth
The Policy Dialogue Session, chaired by HKSAR Deputy Finance Secretary Michael Wong, analysed how economies under the Belt and Road Initiative can strengthen cooperation and boost economic growth through infrastructure development and trade under the theme “Driving Growth through Partnership and Collaboration”. The panel featured government and business leaders from several Belt and Road countries, including Lim Sidenine, Secretary of State of Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Kingdom of Cambodia; Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment, Indonesia; Lim Ban Hong, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia; Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, Singapore; and Chayotid Kridakon, Thai Trade Representative and Advisor to the Prime Minister.

Growing relationship between Belt and Road, RCEP and GBA
The RCEP, which came into effect this year, is the largest free trade agreement in history, accounting for 30% of the world’s population and GDP. With the joint effort of more than 100 countries connected with the Belt and Road Initiative, global regional economic integration will be become more established. The Business Plenary titled “Collaborate for a Bright New Era” was held this morning, with Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, delivering the welcoming remarks. Hosted by Ronnie Chan, Chairman of Hang Lung Properties Limited, the session examined how economic growth can be achieved through multipartite cooperation. Other guest speakers included the Chairman of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, JP Morgan’s Asia Pacific Advisory Council and Non-Executive Chairman of Lion Rod Eddington; the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key; President of the Bank of China Liu Liange; Deputy Managing Director & Chairman for Hong Kong of Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited YK Pang; and CEO and President of Berli Jucker Public Company Limited Aswin Techajareonvikul.

In his welcome remarks, Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, said: “We are capitalising on our strong collaboration with Shenzhen, developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub, focusing development on life and health sciences, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence and data industry, etc. We are also pressing ahead with more local infrastructure projects, including the Northern Metropolis and the Lantau Tomorrow Vision, as well as many other road, railway and land development projects. Talents, capital and entrepreneurs are all essential to achieving our goals. We warmly welcome businesses and talents from all over the world, Belt and Road countries included of course, to come to Hong Kong to collaborate with us and grasp the enormous opportunities together. To this end, we will have new policies and support measures to facilitate the coming of talents and enterprises.”

The strong economic resilience demonstrated by the Greater Bay Area amid the pandemic will further unleash the region’s economic potential in terms of cross-border trade and financial market liberalisation, along with the development of cutting-edge innovation and technology. The Business Plenary this afternoon, “Capturing Synergies between Belt and Road and Greater Bay Area”, was hosted by David YK Wong, Permanent Honorary President of The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong. The panelists included Chairman of the Power Construction Corporation of China Ding Yanzhang; CEO, Chairman of the Management Committee, Executive Director of the Board of China International Capital Corporation Limited Huang Zhaohui; Chairman of MTR Corporation Limited Rex Auyeung; Chairman of WeLab Bank KC Chan; and Chairman of East Asia Region of Arup Group Michael Kwok. The speakers shared ideas on the potential opportunities the GBA brings as an important Belt and Road hub, and also discussed how Hong Kong can further leverage the advantages of the GBA to enhance its position and promote the development of the city’s industries.

Five breakout sessions explore hot-button issues on summit’s first day
Spanning many countries and regions, the Belt and Road Initiative creates new room for the development of professional sectors. On the first day, the summit, in conjunction with a number of organisations including the Department of Justice of the HKSAR Government, the Insurance Regulatory Authority, China Foreign Contractors Association and Dun & Bradstreet, held five breakout sessions to examine a range of topics such as international dispute resolution, insurance services, GBA infrastructure development, digital technology development and future infrastructure development. More thematic breakout sessions and project pitching sessions will be held tomorrow – details of the programme, speakers and partner organisations can be found at https://www.beltandroadSummit.hk/conference/bnr/en

One-to-one business matching meetings and project pitching sessions
Following the success at previous summits, the HKTDC has extended the hybrid project and business-matching sessions from two to seven days (31 August to 6 September) this year. New features include a video display at the summit to increase project exposure and give investors and professional service companies a better understanding of project details.

The summit also features online and offline exhibitions which have attracted more than 60 exhibitors and are divided into the “Global Investment Zone”, “Hong Kong Zone” and “GBA Tech Zone”. The project pitching sessions give entrepreneurs from different countries a platform to present projects, giving investors and service intermediaries a comprehensive understanding of investment opportunities in different sectors. Pitching sessions focus on four main areas – energy, natural resources and public utilities; innovation and technology; urban development; and transport and logistics infrastructure.

China International Capital Corporation Ltd serves as the Strategic Partner of the seventh Belt and Road Summit; Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd as the Regional Banking Partner; and China Mobile International Limited and China Unicom Global Limited as Platinum Sponsors.

The Seventh Belt and Road Summit
Date: 31 August 2022 (Wednesday) Hybrid; 1 September 2022 (Thursday) Online
Websites
– Belt and Road Summit: https://www.beltandroadSummit.hk/conference/bnr/en
– Programme: https://www.beltandroadSummit.hk/conference/bnr/en/programme
– Speaker list: https://www.beltandroadSummit.hk/conference/bnr/en/speaker
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3QbkuDe

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries
Please contact HKTCD’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Agnes Yiu, Tel: +852 3428 5690, email: ayiu@yuantung.com.hk
Tiffany Leung, Tel: +852 3428 2361, email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk
Wong Hing-fung, Tel: +852 3428 3122, email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hk

Four HKTDC August fairs and ICMCM close on a High Note

Food Expo and concurrent events attract more than 430,000 visitors

The HKTDC Food Expo, HKTDC Home Delights Expo, HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo and HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), have all drawn to a successful close, along with the International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM), organised by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA), together with the HKTDC and eight scientific research institutions. The four public fairs saw participation from more than 1,000 exhibitors and attracted over 430,000 visitors.

The Food Expo, Home Delights Expo, Beauty & Wellness Expo and Hong Kong International Tea Fair drew to a close today, attracting more than 430,000 visitors.
The Gourmet Zone at the Food Expo showcased the finest international cuisines. Star chefs were invited to perform cooking demonstrations to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
In addition to inviting and organising local buyers pavilions to visit Food Expo Trade Zone and Hong Kong International Tea Fair for businesses, the HKTDC also arranged more than 700 virtual business matching meetings for buyers.

Sophia Chong, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: “The bustling fairground, despite restrictions such as no sampling for food and drinks, show that people have a strong appetite for shopping. The timing of the second phase of the Consumption Voucher Scheme certainly boosted spending. Meanwhile, our first-ever KOL livestreaming sessions at the fairground further stimulated visitors’ enthusiasm, allowing exhibitors to drive their promotions to a wider audience and expand their customer base. We were equally encouraged to see several group pavilions and exhibitors participating in the Trade Zone of the Food Expo and the International Tea Fair through their local representatives to explore business opportunities.”

90% of exhibitors support consumption voucher payment to encourage spending
The second phase of the Consumption Voucher Scheme was disbursed just days before the fairs. According to a survey, at the fairs, 90% of interviewed exhibitors accepted at least one form of consumption voucher payment, the convenience of which motivated spending. The HKTDC also interviewed around 980 visitors during the fairs through random sampling. 48% of respondents spent HK$1,000 or more at the fairs, with the average per capita spending reaching HK$1,400. The survey also showed that nearly 75% of visitors made purchases at the fairs using electronic payment methods, while more than 78% of them used consumption vouchers. The strong results demonstrated how the added convenience of e-payment can drive consumption at fairs.

Exhibitors’ strategic promotions lead to improved sales performance
Oriental Products Supplies Ltd has been supporting the Food Expo since the company’s founding in 1998. “The Food Expo has always been the perfect place to reach more customers and we have strengthened our brand through the exhibition over the years,” said Mok Wa-yan, Director of the company. “This year, we are showing a diversity of food items including fresh jellyfish and partridge. The response has been very strong and we have had to replenish stocks again and again to meet demand. The latest batch of consumption vouchers that were distributed just before the expo also fuelled the public’s buying sentiment. Our total sales will exceed HK$1 million this year – a very encouraging result.”

Another exhibitor, Star Chefs Creation Limited, saw robust sales boosted by KOL livestreaming sessions during the Food Expo, with more than 200 products of spicy duck blood, butterfly crisp, abalone noodles and creamy custard mooncakes sold via the livestreaming platform LOOPLIVE. Betty Chan, General Sales Manager of the company, said the KOL-led livestreaming sessions opened a new promotional channel for the company’s products.

The concurrent Beauty & Wellness Expo showcased a wide range of beauty and fitness products. Exhibitor Sandi Poon, Business Development Director at Phoelia (Far East) Company Limited, Hong Kong, featured her company’s French facial and wellness equipment during the fair and was impressed with the interest shown by visitors. “The expo gave visitors a chance to try our products and see the benefits. Each set of equipment sells for nearly HK$1 million and we had already sold seven sets to two beauty salons and one rehabilitation centre on the first two days of the expo.”

Local homeware product Sam!ly Group Company Ltd has participated in the Home Delights Expo for many years. With more visitors coming to the event this year, Sales and Marketing Director Lydia Lai said the company expected to see sales revenue exceeding HK$200,000 during the fair.

Success of fairs highlights Hong Kong’s importance in global trade
Numerous group pavilions participated at this year’s Food Expo through local representatives. From Mainland China, the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing Municipality presented local specialities and shared their unique culinary cultures, along with the Aomori Prefecture of Japan, the Japan External Trade Organization and Indonesia. The HKTDC and the Aomori Prefectural Government of Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to carry out economic exchange programmes in the future. Besides expanding bilateral trade and investment, the MoU will also strengthen the economic partnership between the two places to create new business opportunities.

Largely targeting industry and trade buyers, the Trade Zone of the Food Expo and the Hong Kong International Tea Fair were also open to public ticketholders this year. In addition to inviting and organising local buying missions, the HKTDC also arranged more than 700 virtual business matching meetings. Exhibitors and buyers can continue to schedule and conduct more online meetings through Click2Match within seven days after the physical exhibitions. The brand-new exhibition model EXHIBITION+ enables global food buyers to conduct business through the physical exhibitions and an online platform at the same time. Traders were able to stay connected more easily, helping them to forge new deals.

Frozen seafood supplier Garmine Marine Products regularly joins the Food Expo to seek out new suppliers. General Manager Cameron KH Choy said: “Through the Click2Match platform, I’ve established contact with three mainland companies from Zhoushan City in Zhejiang Province for the supply of frozen seafood. Click2Match is very user-friendly, enabling smooth and effective exchanges with overseas suppliers. At the fairground, I found two other seafood suppliers from Zhoushan City at the Zhejiang Province pavilion. The hybrid EXHIBITION+ model is very useful in connecting suppliers online and offline for business expansion.”

The HKTDC arranged a series of exciting activities for visitors during the four fairs, including the Star Chef Session, Road to Brewers Cup and Sharing, and numerous talks with different topics, including “Health Supplements Essential for COVID Period”, “Innovative Hard Coating for Food Appliances”, “Probiotics” and “The New Normal for Skin Care”. The Buy-more-get-more Lucky Draw and Smart Bidding sessions were also held and met with great reception from visitors.

For more comments from exhibitors and buyers, please visit:

Websites:

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries
Ogilvy Public Relations:
Serena Chow, +852 9709 1318, serena.chow@ogilvy.com
Christy Lee, +852 9090 1314, christy.lee@ogilvy.com

HKTDC’s Communications and Public Affairs Department:
Frankie Leung, +852 2584 4298, frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, +852 2584 4554, agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

HKTDC Food Expo and concurrent fairs open today

  • Five-day showcase of global delicacies and more for public to enjoy

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the HKTDC Food Expo, HKTDC Home Delights Expo, HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo, and HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair kicked off today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). In addition, the International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM), organised by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA), together with the HKTDC and eight scientific research institutions, runs concurrently on 11 and 12 August. Guest of honour Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), officiated at this morning’s opening ceremony for the concurrent fairs, joined by Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, and Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC.

Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Paul Chan (front row, center) officiated at the opening ceremony, joined by Dr Peter K N Lam, HKTDC Chairman (2nd from R), Margaret Fong, HKTDC Executive Director (2nd from L), and other distinguished guests.
Officiating guests at the opening ceremony of the ICMCM include (front row, from L): Professor Lin Zhi Xiu, Chairman, ICMCM 2022 Organising Committee; Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC; Libby Lee, Under Secretary for Health of the HKSAR Government; Prof Vivian Taam Wong, Vice President, Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association; and Prof Feng Yi Bin, Chairman, ICMCM 2022 Organising Committee
The Food Expo, featuring a wide range of gourmet products and cuisines from around the world, has once again attracted huge crowds.

Welcoming guests to the fairs, Dr Lam said: “Featuring a wide variety of quality products, these concurrent events highlight Hong Kong’s reputation as Asia’s gourmet paradise and lifestyle hub. The fairs also present an opportunity for over 1,000 local and global exhibitors to tap the tremendous buying power of Hong Kong consumers and buyers. In addition, I would like to thank the HKSAR Government for supporting the exhibitors through the Convention & Exhibition Industry Subsidy and the SME Export Marketing Fund. In challenging times, this support is invaluable to help exhibitors make use of our fairs to expand their buyer and customer base.”

Food Expo (11-15 August): A global culinary journey
The 32nd edition of the Food Expo features the Public Hall, Gourmet Zone and Trade Zone to showcase the finest international cuisines. The Public Hall, which stays open throughout the five-day fair, presents a global selection of food items. These include Food Expo debutant Musang King durian snowy mooncake (booth: 1D-A18), the KiKi Moon Custard Mooncake Collection, plus sauces and tea blends from the popular Taiwanese restaurant KiKi Noodle Bar (KiKi Tea) (booth: 1A-A01), vegetarian crab cakes crafted with a proprietary blend of plant-based proteins (booth: 1E-A28), and the city’s bestselling hormone-free partridge (booth: 1B-B02). Besides, the Premium Food Zone in the Public Hall features quality foods offered by more than 20 renowned brands, including Maxim’s, Tai Pan, Nissin, Sau Tao, Tao Ti, WH Group, BGS and On Kee Dry Seafood.

In addition, three mainland Chinese pavilions participated through local representatives, including the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Chongqing. Among them, the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will bring high-quality local products from Hebei, the Commerce Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will display the exquisite local traditional food, Yulin Niuba. The Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce will present local snacks and hot pot seasonings.

The highly anticipated Gourmet Zone is open to the public for four consecutive days (11 to 14 August) and features six thematic zones, namely Asian Cuisine, Western Delicacy, Sweet Delight, Green Palate, Coffee Avenue and an exciting new addition, Beer Cheers. Each zone features speciality food items, including the Mazinger Z 50th anniversary limited-edition red wine (booth: 3B-F19), Aomori Apple Jewellery Jelly from 76-year-old Japanese confectioner Nikaido Patisserie (booth: 3B-E07), Australian Jarrah honey straws (booth: 3C-B05), mead fermented from exquisite local longan honey using modern wine-making technology (booth: 3C-B06), and ready-to-eat Spanish sliced dried wagyu beef (booth: 3B-D05).

The Trade Zone, running for three days (11-13 August), features more than 100 exhibitors and multiple group pavilions, including several exhibitors from different provinces of Mainland China, such as Zhejiang, Hubei and the Sichuan online pavilion. Featured products include green plum fruit wine from Zhejiang, Wuchang rice from Heilongjiang, Shennong honey from Hubei, and fresh Sichuan pepper oil. The three-day exhibition is open to both industry buyers and public ticket holders.

To celebrate the HKSAR’s 25th anniversary, 13 star chefs are invited to perform cooking demonstrations of 25 dishes. They include Executive Chef Ho Wai-sing of The Royal Garden Chinese Restaurant, Chinese Chef de Cuisine Ho Chun-hung of Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Founder of Hung’s Delicacies Lai Wai-hung, and Executive Chef Will Leung of 1111 and more.

Other activity highlights at the Food Expo include:

  • Culinary masterclasses on “Less Salt and Sugar” recipes to encourage the public to develop healthy eating habits (12 August)
  • Interesting tutorials and insights including the “Chinese Rice Wine + Japanese SAKE Contest” (11 August) and “All about Single Malt Whisky” (13 August)
  • Sharing on preparation for the World Brewers Cup coffee brewing competition along with coffee brewing tips (12 August)
  • A series of seminars covering topics such as “Testing & Certification Services in the Food Industry” (11 August), “Health Supplement Essentials for COVID” (12 August), “Innovative Hard Coating for Food Appliances” (12 August), “EatSmart Restaurant Star+” (11-12 August), “Probiotics” (12 August), and “Blood Vessel Scavenger” (14 August)
  • Hosted by media veteran Jacky Chan, Chef’s Dialogue features three renowned Hong Kong chefs to share their tips on cooking, eating and ingredient selection (13 August)

Home Delights Expo (11-15 August): Build the ideal smart home
The Home Delights Expo returns for its eighth edition in 2022 and runs for five consecutive days. The Avenue of Delights features nearly 40 exhibitors and several lifestyle brands, including Towngas, ZWILLING JA Henckels, Rasonic, A-Fontane, Tiger, German Pool, and Zhang Xiao Quan. In addition, the expo presents a variety of innovative products, including an air purifier that uses NASA technology (booth: 3F-E20), an acetone breathalyser with an AI nutritionist built into the mobile app (booth: 3G-A16), an ultra-small window cleaning robot with autonomous navigation (booth: 3F-A12), and an EMS and heating soother with eight connectors that can massage two body parts at the same time (booth: 3F-C18).

This year, the Hong Kong Furniture and Decoration Trade Association pavilion is showcasing home design solutions that integrate technology in various living situations to create the ideal home. The Creative Corner introduces several innovative products from more than 50 local start-ups. They include handmade wooden frame glasses (booth: 3G-F05), a European birch grinder (booth: 3G-F02), and an iced tea candle with a look and aroma very similar to the popular drink (booth: 3G-F09).

Beauty & Wellness Expo (11-15 August): Maintain wellness inside and out
The sixth Beauty & Wellness Expo features four major pavilions: Federation of Beauty Industry (H.K.), Hong Kong Hair & Beauty Merchants Association, International Beauty & Health General Union, and The Cosmetics & Perfumery Association of Hong Kong Ltd. In addition, new pavilions have been formed by the Hong Kong China Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness and the International Beauty Professionals Validation Association.

The expo features a wide range of products for those looking for a healthy lifestyle. They include Disney Trendy Colour Gel, a soak-off gel nail polish by Korean professional brand DGEL (booth: 3E-B17), an organic juicy makeup remover made using a unique formula (Booth: 3E-D02), a detoxification and dampness removal supplement kit using 13 patented ingredients (booth: 3E-E11), shoe insoles designed using biomechanical principles and sports mechanics (booth: 3D-C13), and a portable gym that provides total body strength training (booth: 3D-C01). In addition, diet therapy, health and beauty expert Yoko Tsang will share the new normal for skincare (14 August). On the same day, the Hong Kong China Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness will host a preview of the 2022 Hong Kong Bodybuilding & Fitness Charity Championship – HKSAR 25 Anniversary Cup.

International Tea Fair (11-13 August): Appreciate the art of tea
The 13th Hong Kong International Tea Fair presents a variety of exceptional products, such as innovative Yunnan Taetea that still retains a traditional and classic style (booth: 3B-A02), special editions of Pu’er raw and ripe tea cakes produced in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR (booth: 3B-A08), and centennial Pu’er tea and tea of ancient tree made using century-old traditional fermentation techniques (booth: 3B-A11). There are several exciting activities at the fair including the “KamCha Workshop, Taste of Hong Kong – HK Style Milk Tea” (13 August), the Strength – Youth Tea Ceremony (13 August), and an insightful sharing session on nutrition and tea therapy (12 August).

This year’s Hong Kong International Tea Fair and the Food Expo’s Trade Zone are held in a brand-new exhibition model called EXHIBITION+ that allows global buyers to conduct business through physical exhibitions and an online platform at the same time, further expanding their market access. Exhibitors and buyers who cannot attend the fairs in person can actively browse AI-recommended leads, proactively search for business partners, and send requests for video conference meetings up to seven days in advance of the fairs via Click2Match, the smart business-matching platform.

ICMCM (11-12 August): Expert insights into Chinese medicine and therapies
The Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association has joined hands with the HKTDC and eight scientific research institutions to present the latest International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products (ICMCM) on 11 and 12 August. The conference delivers invaluable information and insights on Chinese medicine to industry participants. This year’s theme is “Innovative Drug Development and Clinical Research in Chinese Medicine” featuring 17 keynote speakers from the United States, Australia, Austria, Germany, Japan, Mainland China and Hong Kong. These experts will discuss research results and share successful cases of integrating Chinese and Western medicine. The conference runs in a hybrid format with physical and online sessions to facilitate the exchange of ideas among participants and speakers. Registered Chinese medicine practitioners in Hong Kong who join the conference can apply for the CME credits.

Supporting consumption voucher payment and fabulous lucky draw
The second phase of the Consumption Voucher Scheme was disbursed just before the fairs. The HKTDC is encouraging participants to use electronic payment systems at this year’s fairs, with 90% of the surveyed exhibitors accepting at least one consumption voucher payment method for the convenience of the public. In addition, in partnership with livestreaming platform LOOPLIVE, the newly introduced livestreaming sessions feature key opinion leaders (KOLs) broadcasting live about exciting products and shopping privileges on the LOOPLIVE app during the fairs (11-15 August).

The “Buy-more-get-more Lucky Draw” is held daily during the exhibitions with fabulous prizes, including household products, skincare products, gourmet food, health products and fitness classes. Spending HK$200 or more on a single receipt gives visitors one entry into the lucky draw, with a maximum of five entries per receipt.

The HKTDC has also launched the “August Happy Buy” website, keeping the public updated on the latest shopping news and various flash sales at the fairs, including a HK$1 chicken pot, abalone noodle gift boxes and snowy durian mooncakes. Attendees can also download some 200 e-coupons in advance to enjoy special offers at the exhibitions.

Safety arrangements for visitors
Safety is a top priority for the HKTDC and various measures have been implemented to safeguard participants, including requiring everyone in the fairground to wear a mask; not allowing eating, drinking, and sample tasting in the fairground; setting up temperature-screening stations; providing hand sanitiser at multiple locations; and stepping up the cleaning and disinfection of exhibitors’ booths and the overall venue. All exhibition visitors are required to use the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app to scan the venue QR code and present their Vaccine Pass at the fair entrance.

No physical ticket sales is arranged at the fairground. All visitors can pay with their Octopus card at the entrance toll booths to gain entry. To space out the flow of visitors and encourage the public to visit the exhibitions during non-peak hours, the HKTDC has introduced morning and night admission tickets at a special price.

Websites:
– HKTDC Food Expo: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkfoodexpo/en
– HKTDC Home Delights Expo: https://homedelights.hktdc.com/en
– HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo: https://hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com/en
– HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair: https://hkteafair.hktdc.com/en
– The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM): https://icmcm.hktdc.com/en
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3zQihql

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries
Ogilvy Public Relations:
Serena Chow, +852 9709 1318, serena.chow@ogilvy.com
Christy Lee +852 9090 1314, christy.lee@ogilvy.com

HKTDC’s Communications and Public Affairs Department:
Frankie Leung, +852 2584 4298, frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, +852 2584 4554, agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

Asian Licensing Conference explores latest trends and forges new business opportunities

34 industry experts share insights, 25,000+ viewers join online

The 11th Asian Licensing Conference (ALC), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), ran successfully from 27 to 29 July. The three-day online event featured 22 thematic sessions where 34 industry experts from different sectors addressed participants. More than 25,000 viewers from 42 countries and regions joined the discussions alongside physical participation at five satellite conferences in Chongqing, Dalian, Hangzhou and Shenzhen in Mainland China and Jakarta in Indonesia. The three-day event generated nearly 140 one-on-one business matching meetings online, connecting global licensing players with potential partners to help them explore business opportunities.

The 11th Asian Licensing Conference (ALC) online featured 34 industry speakers well versed in the industry and attracted more than 25,000 viewers from 42 countries and regions.
Five satellite conferences were held in parallel with the ALC in Chongqing, Dalian, Hangzhou and Shenzhen in Mainland China and Jakarta in Indonesia.
The inaugural Brand Forum took place alongside the conference, featuring a number of established Asian brands. Representatives from these brands shared their stories and connected with participants for potential business partnerships.

One-stop platform connects licensing partners to global opportunities
Hong Kong is maintaining its position as an international intellectual property (IP) and licensing hub that links international licensors and licensing agents. The ALC provides a one-stop platform where leading global brands and licensors can explore cross-sectoral cooperation and keep abreast of the latest market trends and opportunities. This year the conference addressed topical issues in such areas as non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the metaverse, brands crossover, arts and culture licensing, art technology, blockchain gaming, location-based entertainment (LBE) experiences, environmental, social and governance (ESG) in licensing and more.

Speaking at the conference, Maura Regan, President of Licensing International, said that following two years of unparalleled change brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers put greater focus on life and cultural experiences. She said the global licensing community should capture opportunities arising from this consumer behaviour shift, expressing confidence that the licensing industry will continue to grow in line with consumer market trends in over the next two years.

Brand Forum builds business connections
The inaugural Brand Forum took place alongside the conference, featuring a number of established Asian brands such as BANDAI NAMCO, CAPCOM, DNP, Fuji Television, TV TOKYO Communication, Minto, San-Byte, Sony Creative, Poplar Publishing and Tsuburaya. Brand representatives shared their stories and were connected with other participants to explore potential partnerships. In addition, 45 Hong Kong homegrown brands under the DLAB banner presented their creative characters, animations, products and gaming designs. The online exhibition showcased more than 100 instances of IPs, fully demonstrating the power of licensing and creativity in the region.

TV TOKYO Communication shared that the event enabled them to connect with potential partners worldwide and explore business opportunities together. Yellow White Stone also said taking part in ALC helped them gain more experience and exposure.

At the “China Opportunity” session, one conference highlight, Gao Zheng, Director General, Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation (Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs) of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, said Hong Kong has been playing an important role in the development of the country’s cultural industry. The conference would further promote business collaboration between international and Mainland Chinese enterprises, and at the same time cement Hong Kong’s unique role as an international licensing hub. Jacky Chung, HKTDC Director, Mainland, said the National 14th Five-Year Plan supported Hong Kong’s development into an arts and cultural exchange hub that connects the mainland to the rest of the world. This will further enhance the city’s function as a trade centre for international IP and a globally recognised licensing hub.

He Yizan, Founder and CEO of ARTiSTORY, said technology would have a profound impact on people’s lives, and many cultural and art institutions were now actively embracing new technologies. He believed the convergence of art and technology would become a new trend for cultural and art licensing in the future.

Over three event-packed days, the ALC addressed numerous topical issues, offered fruitful content to participants and generated business opportunities for industry players. The event served as a prelude to the 20th HKTDC Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS) and the 12th Asian Licensing Conference (ALC) to be held from 27 to 29 April 2023. More details of these events will be announced in due course.

All ALC sessions were broadcast via the event’s online platform. Complimentary playback is available for registered participants until 29 August 2022 through the conference website link [ https://alc.hktdc.com ], while subscription for video-on-demand is available for those who did not register for this year’s event. Please email to: alc@hktdc.org for details of the subscription.

Website
– Asian Licensing Conference website: https://alc.hktdc.com
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3PXfC5i

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org
Snowy Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org

Twin HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Shows and Simply Shopping Fest Conclude

  • Diamond jewellery and gourmet food most popular, with sales boosted by livestreaming

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 38th HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, the 8th HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show and the inaugural Simply Shopping Fest have all concluded successfully. The three public shows attracted more than 80,000 visitors appreciating and purchasing fine jewellery pieces, in addition to buying gourmet food and wine and household items. The concurrent events featured livestreaming sessions hosted by key opinion leaders (KOLs), offering more opportunities for exhibitors to showcase their products as well as creating a more engaging experience – covering shopping, leisure and entertainment – for the general public. The broadcasts received an enthusiastic response.

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 38th HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and 8th HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show concluded successfully yesterday.
The two jewellery shows featured jewellery parades that showcased elegant and stylish pieces.
The smart jewellery bidding session was well received with visitors participating enthusiastically in bidding for their desired pieces.

HKTDC Acting Executive Director Sophia Chong said: “The two jewellery shows were open to the public this year, bringing local retail opportunities for exhibitors. We promoted an online-to-offline (O2O) shopping model through the KOL livestreaming sessions, with engaging sales techniques helping exhibitors to further promote their products. Following the encouraging feedback received, we will continue reinforcing cross-channel marketing to help exhibitors increase brand awareness, reach out to a wider customer base and grow their business.”

Jewellery exhibitors acquiring new customers
J Ocean Pearl Jewellery Limited Director Jackie Leung and Marketing Director Lila Wong said their sales at the Jewellery Show were satisfactory, helped by using social media promotions to further extend their reach to new customer segments. “The KOL livestreaming session at our booth was an interesting way to interact with viewers, opening up new business opportunities and attracting more customers,” they said.

Yvonne Pong, Director of Wing Hang South Sea Pearl Company Limited, shared that a new customer purchased a golden pearl necklace priced at more than HK$200,000. “Our sales have been encouraging. The shows attract many quality consumers with strong purchasing power,” Ms Pong said.

Another exhibitor, Jignesh Donda, Director, Sheetal (Far East) Limited, said: “We showcased a variety of exquisite diamonds at the show, primarily focused on 0.30 to 0.50 carat diamonds, to cater to the preferences of local customers. The new Exhibition Centre MTR station makes it more convenient for exhibitors and visitors to get to the fairground. We’ve received a number of enquiries from customers and believe we will meet more new customers here.”

Talented local jewellery designers gathered at the shows
As one of the highlight events this year, the 23rd Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition continues to provide a platform for local talents to showcase their creative flair and to identify budding designers. The winning pieces were displayed at the twin jewellery shows.

The shows also provided a precious opportunity for young designers to interact with the public, while showcasing their creative talents and jewellery designs.

Fanny Yu, Group Project Director of Loupe, noted: “Loupe is a design incubation space founded by Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group to nurture Hong Kong’s young talents in jewellery-making and design. This is the first time we have participated in the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show. Around 20 young jewellery designers are with us here. Through this opportunity, they have acquired a deeper understanding of local consumers’ needs. This will definitely help their career development.”

The HKTDC surveyed more than 1,000 exhibitors and visitors during the twin jewellery shows. The results showed that the most popular purchases were diamond jewellery, followed by gemstone jewellery and jade jewellery. Close to 40% of surveyed visitors said they had spent at least HK$1,000 more at the fairs in anticipation of a new round of consumption vouchers by the government. Around 33% of visitors said they had spent more than HK$10,000 at the jewellery shows.

Food and health products top sellers at Simply Shopping Fest
The debut Simply Shopping Fest showed its effectiveness as a channel for exhibitors to sell products to the general public. HKTDC’s survey conducted at Simply Shopping Fest reflected that gourmet food and wine were the most purchased types of product, followed by home and living goods and health and beauty items. Survey respondents said that product variety, product price and discount offers were the most attractive aspects of the shopping fair.

Gary Ching, Founder & Watchmaker, Anpassa Watch Company, Hong Kong said: “We are participating in the debut Simply Shopping Fest to let more people know about our local brand “Anpassa” along with our customised and personalised watchmaking service. We estimate that on-site sales will be around HK$100,000. Benefitting from the Government’s Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme, SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) from different sectors are able to participate in this fair at discounted exhibition fees, bringing a greater variety of products to consumers.”

Livestreaming generated more business opportunities for exhibitors
The HKTDC collaborated with livestreaming platforms to present multiple livestreaming sessions at the three events, helmed by KOLs who promoted exhibitors’ products and interacted with the audience.

Exhibitor Kenneth Au, Co-founder and Director at Life Is For Excellence Limited, said: “The KOLs explain the features of our healthy foods to customers in an interactive and persuasive way. Customers buy our products via the livestreaming platform and pick them up at the fairground. This O2O shopping model has helped us increase our exposure, enrich our customers’ experience and generate more sales turnover.” Meanwhile, Jackel Lee, Owner of Nubiotic International (HK) Limited, said orders generated from the livestreaming sessions accounted for 10% of the company’s turnover at the fair.

Numerous exciting events were held during the three fairs, including smart bidding sessions where shoppers bid on popular items starting at 10% of the retail price. Other well-received events organised at the jewellery shows include Jewellery Parade Series, Tahitian Pearl Stylish Bracelet Workshop and Handmade Rose Earrings Workshop as well as sharing sessions on “Diamond, Arts and Science” and “Making Unique Jewellery: The Tradition and Future of Craftsmanship”.

At the Simply Shopping Fest, events such as the Hong Kong Tasting Trendies Sake Awards 2022, Cooking with Chef Kitty, Oppa’s Cuisine – Food and Wine Pairing, Chinese calligraphy appreciation, Chinese medicine and ketogenic diet sharing sessions were popular among visitors.

Food Expo and three concurrent shows coming up in mid-August
Following on the heels of these three exhibitions, the HKTDC will organise a series of public fairs in the summer, including the Food Expo, Beauty & Wellness Expo and Home Delights Expo (all 11 to 15 August), and the Hong Kong International Tea Fair (11 to 13 August). These events will provide the public with a unique one-stop shopping experience, while helping companies expand their local retail market and provide a boost to Hong Kong’s economy.

Websites
– Hong Kong International Jewellery Show: https://hkjewelleryshow.hktdc.com
– Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show: https://hkdgp.hktdc.com
– Simply Shopping Fest: https://ssf.hktdc.com/en
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3Q6NpbQ

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries:
Please contact HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

Twin HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Shows and Simply Shopping Fest Open Today

  • Fully open to public, boost for companies’ local retail business

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 38th HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and 8th HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show open today and run for five days (from 29 July to 2 August). The HKTDC is also staging the inaugural Simply Shopping Fest from today until 1 August, being held concurrently at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The twin jewellery shows play host to more than 430 exhibitors while Simply Shopping Fest houses more than 570 exhibitors, offering the public an eventful place to spend the weekend and enjoy a one-stop shopping experience.

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show are being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).
The 38th HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and 8th HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show opened today and run until 2 August at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The concurrent Simply Shopping Fest has invited multiple pavilions to join, with product categories including Gourmet & Wine, Fashion & Jewellery, Home & Living, Toys & Leisure, Health & Beauty and Baby Essentials.

Officiating at today’s opening ceremony for the jewellery shows was Peter Shui, Member of the Legislative Council. Speaking at the ceremony, Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “In total, the three shows feature more than 1,000 exhibitors, making this a true shopping extravaganza for eager public visitors over the summer golden period. We hope the shows will generate plenty of business opportunities for all our exhibitors – and provide a great day out for members of the public.”

Seven highlight zones present array of exquisite jewellery
This year’s Hong Kong International Jewellery Show consists of seven distinct zones, including “World of Glamour”, “Fine Jewellery”, “Antique & Vintage Jewellery”, “Silver and Finished Jewellery”, “Watch Avenue”, “Jewellery X Creativity” and “Tools & Equipment and Packaging”. Many well-known local jewellers are joining the fairs to present their spotlight pieces, including the “Katherine Collection” jade and diamond jewellery set (booth 3F-C13) inspired by a light and shadow design concept, the latest “Fueki with Flying Balloon” collection (booth 3G-C23), the “Summer Palette” collection Southsea White Pearl Aquamarine 18K White Gold Diamond Set (booth 3G-F18), an 18K Gold Diamond Ring (booth 3E-B02) and Fish Jadeite Pendant (booth 3E-B29). There is also a comprehensive selection of wedding jewellery at the shows, including an 18K GIA Pink Diamond Ring (booth 3F-E20), the Heart-to-Heart series (booth 3E-F06), Calla Lily Pure Gold Collection (booth 3E-D02), an 18K Yellow & White Gold Diamond with Natural Golden South Sea Pearl Necklace and Brooch (booth 3E-C16) and more.

Complementing the dazzling pieces at the Jewellery Show, the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show features loose diamonds in various cuttings, sizes and colours, along with coloured gemstones, semi gemstones and pearls from different origins. Some of the bespoke products include the Finest Hearts & Arrows (booth 3D-B17), Marquise shape diamond (booth 3D-C10), Rainbow Sets (booth 3G-B32), Natural Fancy Colour Diamond Bracelet (booth 3D-C09), Natural Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Round Beads Strand (booth 3F-D31) and 12-15mm South Sea Pearl Necklace (booth 3G-E12). Jewellery lovers can choose their favourite jewellery materials and match them with different accessories to design and make their own unique jewellery items.

The Chuk Kam Jewellery Design Competition 2022 Award Presentation Ceremony and the 23rd Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition Award Presentation Ceremony were held this afternoon to encourage and reward local jewellery design talents. The winning designs will be displayed in Hall 3FG concourse throughout the show. Newly launched in the Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition this year is the “Most Popular Award”. Visitors are able to vote for their favourite piece and receive a souvenir.

Fun activities for public, special privileges and limited-availability offers
Since the twin shows are fully opened up this year, a wide range of activities have been specially arranged for visitors. Sharing sessions by industry experts will help enhance the public’s jewellery knowledge, including representatives from L’Ecole offering insights on “Diamond, Arts and Science” tomorrow (30 July), and David Wong, Founder and Project Manager of the Hong Kong Pearl Cultivation Association, talking about sustainable pearls at the “Say ‘I Do’ to the Planet: Why Choose Sustainable Pearls?” session on Sunday (31 July). Visitors can also join the Tahitian Pearl Stylish Bracelet Workshop and A Rosy Twist – Handmade Rose Earrings Workshop over the weekend (30 and 31 July) to create their own accessories, while representatives from Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group and Loupe will discuss their expertise at the “Making Unique Jewellery: The Tradition and Future of Craftsmanship” sharing session next Monday (1 August).

Jewellery Smart Bidding sessions will be held during the shows, with auction pieces including an 18K colour diamond earrings and ring set and an 18K South Sea pearl diamond pendant. Bidding will start at 10% of the retail price. Many exhibitors are offering limited-time discounts of up to 70% during the shows in order to encourage more business. In addition, there will be jewellery parades and lucky draws throughout fair period. Visitors who spend more than HK$1,000 in one single purchase can enter into a lucky draw to win fabulous prizes such as a pure gold tiger ornament, a Bijoumontre Petite series watch and more. Those who spend more than HK$3,000 (the sum of no more than two receipts from different exhibitors) can redeem a special gift while stock lasts.

Six product zones feature gourmet foods, wines, homeware and more
With the theme “Always Vibrant for Shopping”, Simply Shopping Fest features six product zones, namely Gourmet & Wine, Fashion & Jewellery, Home & Living, Toys & Leisure, Health & Beauty and Baby Essentials. Highlight products include red wine from a broad selection of regions (booth 5E-E09), tea series fragrance oil and perfume (booth 5G-A48), multifunctional kitchenware (booth 5F-D40), a floor cleaning robot (booth 5F-D24) and much more.

Multiple pavilions are featured at Simply Shopping Fest, including “The Hong Kong & Kowloon Provisions, Wine & Spirit Dealers’ Association x Nam Pak Hong Association”, “Hong Kong People and Brands”, “Beverage and Food Community”, “Hong Kong General Chamber of Wine & Spirits”, “Hong Kong Wine and Spirits Association”, “Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises Association”, “Hong Kong Furniture and Decoration Trade Association”, “Hong Kong Quality Brands Alliance”, “STORE by PolyU Fashion”, “Korean Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong”, “Fashionally” and more. The pavilions feature a variety of products such as an eczema care kit (booth 5E-E24), Japanese sugarless plum wine (booth 5E-F14), quality French wine from renowned vineyards (booth 5E-C24), locally designed mask covers (booth 5E-G27), a smart door viewer (booth 5F-F33) and home textile products (booth 5F-E09).

Numerous shopping offers and lucky draw
A number of exhibitors at Simply Shopping Fest will launch pop-up sales or limited-time offers at different periods during the event, including bargains such as HK$1 for ECdental toothpaste (booth 5E-G15), HK$100 for four packs of healthy soup ingredients (booth 5E-B24), HK$500 for four 200g boxes of Miyazaki Wagyu sliced beef (booth 5E-D17) and HK$1 for Spanish Iberian pork ham (booth 5E-H45). Simply Smart Bidding sessions are open for shoppers to bid on popular items starting at 10% of the retail price. Visitors can bid for a trendy watch from HK$120 (original price: HK$1,198), a pair of 14K gold earrings from HK$100 (original price: HK$1,000) and a whole Jamon Serrano 24 Month Gran Reserva from HK$400 (original price: HK$3,980).

The Simply Lucky Draw is arranged every day of the event, open to visitors who spend more than HK$200 in a single receipt. Prizes include hotel accommodation packages, accessories, healthcare products and more. Over a hundred e-coupons are listed at the fair website offering exclusive discounts. What’s more, numerous exciting events are scheduled over the four days including the Hong Kong Tasting Trendies Sake Awards 2022, Cooking with Chef Kitty, Oppa’s Cuisine – Food and Wine Pairing, taekwondo performances, Chinese calligraphy appreciation, makeup demonstrations, Chinese medicine and ketogenic diet sharing sessions.

KOL livestreaming enabling O2O shopping experience
Multiple livestreaming sessions helmed by key opinion leaders (KOLs) will run from today for four consecutive days at the twin jewellery shows. The KOLs will introduce exclusive discounted items from selected exhibitors while visiting their booths. They will also interact with viewers, showing them a variety of jewellery pieces and sharing the lively atmosphere at the fairground. The public can also watch livestream broadcasts of the two jewellery shows through the Facebook pages of Sanchuanpro and Zero One Media Company Limited, which partner with Source Network Media Group Limited. Those who successfully place orders through the KOL livestream broadcasts can redeem free entry to the event to pick up their purchases and shop for more.

The public can also download the LOOPLIVE app to watch a series of live broadcasts from the Simply Shopping Fest hosted by various local KOLs while shopping for their favourite items and enjoying discounts, including HK$159 for a 6-in-1 function pulse massager, HK$68 for the O Steam Hair Mask Step 1+2 and more. App viewers can also take advantage of a “buy online, pick up onsite” service by ordering and paying for products online and picking them up at the fairground.

Websites

Photo Caption:
Officiating at today’s opening ceremony are: (front row, from L) Billy Lau, Honorary President & Director, Hong Kong Jewellery and Jade Manufacturers Association; Kent Wong, Chairman, Hong Kong Jewellers’ and Goldsmiths’ Association; Lawrence Ma, Chairman, Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show Fair Organizing Committee, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and Founding President and Chairman, Diamond Federation of Hong Kong; Peter Shiu, Member of the Legislative Council; Margaret Fong, Executive Director, Hong Kong Trade Development Council; Winston Chow, Chairman, Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s Jewellery Advisory Committee; Bronia Yip, Chairwoman, Hong Kong Jewelry Manufacturers’ Association; and Victor Yiu, Vice President, Diamond Federation of Hong Kong
https://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_HKTDC202207292.jpg

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries:
Please contact HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

32nd HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair attracts 850,000 visitors

Three major exhibitions are a big success, more events to come

The 32nd HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, 5th HKTDC Sports and Leisure Expo and 2nd HKTDC World of Snacks, all organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded successfully today. As the first large-scale event in 2022, the seven-day Book Fair and associated events brought together more than 700 exhibitors offering a diverse experience for shoppers that included books, sports and leisure products, and snacks. The three events drew 850,000 visitors, with average per capita spending of HK$879. The huge success of the concurrent fairs augurs well for the HKTDC’s upcoming exhibition series.

The Hong Kong Book Fair drew to a successful close today. The seven-day event attracted 850,000 visitors.
Exhibitors presented books related to theme of the year – “History and City Literature”.
Visitors show great interest in buying books written by the celebrated late novelist Ni Kuang.

Keen participation in diverse range of cultural activities and seminars
This year’s Book Fair is one of the events celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “We are very grateful to all our exhibitors and visitors for their support for the Book Fair, the Sports and Leisure Expo and World of Snacks. Some visitors even brought their whole family along! Under the theme of the year, ‘History and City Literature’, visitors showed great interest in related books, particularly cultural topics such as the history of the Forbidden City. Visitors also participated in various cultural events, seminars and recreational experiences. The HKTDC will continue to work with our Cultural Events Advisory Panel to bring even more diversity to the Book Fair in order to promote reading and cultural exchange more comprehensively. We look forward to our twin jewellery shows and Simply Shopping Fest, opening on 29 July, which will boost local consumption and introduce more business opportunities for exhibitors.”

Echoing the comments by Ms Chong, Book Fair exhibitors said that books related to this year’s theme were among the best-selling genres at the event, including books on topics such as the history of the Forbidden City that enabled readers to get a better understanding of China’s past. Meanwhile, books related to health and self-improvement and children’s books were also popular and drew good business.

Fiction, literature, comics, travel and children’s book revealed as most popular genres
More than 800 visitors to the Book Fair were interviewed by a research institute commissioned by the HKTDC to get an insight into their spending and reading habits. The survey showed that the average spending at this year’s fair was HK$879 – recording an increase from last year (spending in 2021 was HK$817) and accounting for 71% of respondents’ average annual expenditure on printed books (HK$1,238). This demonstrates that the Book Fair remains an important platform for local people to get access to quality reading materials. The majority of respondents (82%) attended the Book Fair to seek out new releases while 41% came for book discounts, 17% visited for the diverse cultural activities, and 15% intended to buy children’s books.

The survey also revealed the reading habits and preferences of attendees, with 95% of respondents saying they had read printed books in the past month with an average reading time of 19 hours. The most popular genres were fiction (57%), literature (25%), comics (21%), travel (18%) and children’s books (17%). Other popular genres were language books, supplementary exercises, self-improvement, history and biographies. The survey found that more than 65% of respondents had read e-books in the past month, also spending an average of 19 hours reading.

57% of respondents use electronic payment methods
Reflecting the influence of the pandemic, 57% of respondents settled payment using non-cash methods, including Octopus cards and credit cards, showing a rise from 49% last year. Visitors also rated the crowd control measures at the fairs positively, with 89% saying they were satisfied with the crowd control measures, and 90% expressing satisfaction with the new Octopus payment admission arrangements. To safeguard the health and safety of exhibitors and visitors, preventive measures were implemented, including temperature checkpoints and hand-sanitising facilities, which were acknowledged by 89% of the survey respondents. The measures implemented by the HKTDC made visitors feel more at ease when visiting the fairs.

Exhibitions, seminars and more to continue in Cultural July
This year, the HKTDC organised more than 600 seminars and cultural activities, including the theme of the year “Reading the World: Stories of Hong Kong” seminar series, “History and City Literature”, “Renowned Writers”, “English and International Reading”, “World of Knowledge”, “Children and Youth Reading”, “Lifestyle”, “Hong Kong Cultural and Historical”, and “Personal Development and Spiritual Growth”. Together with the “Cultural July – Summer of Reading” campaign held in various districts since late June, the estimated number of participants for the various activities exceeded 320,000. Some of the seminars in the “Renowned Writers” seminar series were broadcast online in collaboration with Sina Weibo, allowing book lovers outside Hong Kong to participate virtually.

Recordings of selected seminars are available online. Readers can revisit them through the Book Fair website or via the HKTDC’s online video channels. The Cultural July citywide campaign continues until the end of this month with a broad range of activities including art and cultural tours, exhibitions and seminars. For details, please visit the Cultural July website at http://www.hkbookfair.hktdc.com/CulturalJuly

Sports and Leisure Expo and World of Snacks were well received
Offering a broad selection of sports and leisure products and services along with more than 1,200 tasty treats and snack workshops, the Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo and World of Snacks also concluded today. The former featured various trials and interactive experiences while the latter offered visitors a chance to buy treats from around the world and make their own snacks. Both events saw keen participation and exhibitors reported excellent sales.

Following these three exhibitions, the HKTDC will organise a series of events in the summer, including Simply Shopping Fest (29 July to 1 Aug), the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show (29 July to 2 Aug), Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show (29 July to 2 Aug), Food Expo (11 to 15 Aug), Beauty & Wellness Expo (11 to 15 Aug), Home Delights Expo (11 to 15 Aug), and the Hong Kong International Tea Fair (11 to 13 Aug). These events will cater to the varying needs of the public while helping businesses expand their local retail market and provide a boost to Hong Kong’s economy at the same time.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3oqdKWs

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries
Hong Kong Book Fair
HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clementine Cheung, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: clementine.hm.cheung@hktdc.org
Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Agnes Yiu, Tel: +852 3428 5690, Email: ayiu@yuantung.com.hk
Fung Wong, Tel: +852 3428 3122, Email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hk

Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo, World of Snacks
HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Frankie Leung, Tel: +852 2584 4298, Email: frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Tiffany Leung, Tel: +852 3428 2361, Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk

31st HKTDC Education & Careers Expo opens today

Four Education & Careers theme days Empower youth to embrace the new future

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 31st HKTDC Education & Careers Expo opened today and runs until 24 July (Sunday) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The expo runs in parallel with the HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo and World of Snacks. Open to the public free of charge, the expo features two major sections – Education and Careers – to provide comprehensive information on education and job opportunities.

Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, officiated at the opening ceremony for the 31st edition of the HKTDC Education & Careers Expo.
The Careers section of the expo provides information on various industries. The Hong Kong Vocational Training Council (HKVTC) will introduce new technologies and skills during the seminars to help students better prepare for the future.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chris Sun officiated at the opening ceremony this morning. Margaret Fong, HKTDC Executive Director, said in her welcoming remarks: “Entering its 31st edition, the Education and Careers Expo serves as a platform for jobseekers and students looking to connect with employers and institutions, helping them to get valuable advice on career options and education opportunities. This year, we are delighted to welcome over 780 organisations, including educational institutions, government departments, professional associations and private companies representing 18 countries and regions.”

Four education-themed zones present local and overseas studying opportunities
Four educational zones have been set up to help students explore different options for further education. The Local Education Zone gathers various universities and community colleges, providing the latest information of a range of popular courses. The event also sees new exhibitors, such as consulate general offices of Japan, Ireland, Finland and Switzerland in the Overseas & Mainland China Education Zone, while on further study in mainland China, the Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC) and the Heung To College of Professional Studies provide practical consultation service.

In the Continuing Education Zone, exhibitors, such as the Hong Kong Mediation Centre and Tak On Driving School, provide a variety of courses for continuous learning. Youth Square will set up a summer job and internship zone. Being new to the expo, St. James’ Settlement – Career Sparkle offers various activities to help teenagers explore their personal interests and abilities. The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) graduates should take the opportunity to explore more possibilities at the Expo.

The expo’s education-themed days focus on further education in the European Union (21 July), Japan (22 July), France (23 July) and Germany (24 July), with representatives from consulate general offices to introduce the prerequisites for admission, application procedures, information on campus life and more. Visitors can also meet with various officially recognised bodies to get first-hand information on studying abroad. Talks will be held by different institutions: the Ontario eSchool Asia Limited will give advice on studying in Canada, whereas Synchro Overseas Study and Career will focus on medical-related education in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Four careers theme days address talent demand in various industries
Four careers-themed days during the expo highlight the latest trends in different industries. On the theme day Skilling for the Future: New Technology and New Talents (21 July), held by the Vocational Training Council (VTC), new technologies and skills, such as geospatial data, Chinese medicine research and art technologies, will be introduced via talks and seminars. The Electrical & Mechanical Engineering theme day (22 July), co-organised with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the Hong Kong Electrical and Mechanical Trade Promotion Working Group, will invite industry professionals to speak on the current and future prospects in areas such as railway, autombile and the electrical and mechanical engineering industry.

On the third day of the expo, the brand-new themed day Professional Development for the Future (23 July), supported by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG), will address hot topics, such as gerontechnology application and digital marketing. On the last day, the Exploring Construction Industry theme day (24 July), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Institute of Construction (HKIC), will invite construction professionals to share on Building Information Modeling, metal works and welding courses.

Two career-themed zones offer 2700+ job opportunities
There are two career zones, among which the very popular Careers Zone will involve different organisations and provide analysis of the prospects in different industries. The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) will share the pathways and tips to join the innovation and technology industry. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), a new exhibitor this year, will introduce the job nature of different positions and application requirements.

Meanwhile, this year’s Recruitment Square gathers various recruitment platforms, public organisations and private companies offering more than 2,700 job opportunities and on-the-spot recruitment, including Cathay Pacific, QB house, Tai Hing Group and Asia Airfreight Terminal. Visitors can bring their CV along to the expo to apply for interested posts.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau will cover the opportunities for education, employment, and entrepreneurship in the Greater Bay Area. Y.Elites Association Limited has invited Qianhai International Liaison Services Limited to introduce Qianhai’s preferential policies for Hong Kong citizens on housing, starting a business, financial, innovation and technology backing, and household registration. For those with the intention to tap into GBA for education, career and business opportunities should not miss the events. In addition, representatives from consulate offices of Hungary, France, and Germany will share more information on Working Holidays Scheme, allowing young people to explore different opportunities around the world.

90+ inspiring events with experts and celebrities sharing their success stories
More than 90 inspiring events will be held during the expo, including a performance by Correctional Services Dog Unit, seminars on higher education and sharing on different careers by celebrities and education experts. Today, Kandy Lui, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management addressed the new normal in workplaces under the pandemic and offered tips for enhancing personal capabilities. The following day, Tsang Yip-kiu (Siu Mai), a contestant on television talent show King Maker IV, will share valuable experiences in pursuing her dream. On the same day, Wong Kim-fung, founder of threezero and Chairman of the Hong Kong Brand Toy Association, and two vice chairmen, Howard Chan (founder of Hot Toys) and Kenny Wong (designer of brand toy “Molly” and creative director of Kennyswork), will discuss how people can turn their passion into career and offer tips on joining the brand toy industry.

On 23 July, Samuel Chan, a specialist in British education, will go into detail about the British educational system and strategies for applying for schools in the UK. Education expert and one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons, Principal Chu Tsz-wing, will touch on how he brought experiential learning in Hong Kong and offer students advice on career planning for students. On the last day of the expo (24 July), Pinky Cheng and Tammy Lo, members of the construction industry key opinion leaders “Dream Girls” will disclose their interesting work experiences and how they joined the construction industry. In addition, Patrick Sir, TV host, actor and founder of an education centre and international kindergarten, will talk about his career shift from the education field to the television industry, encouraging young people to further explore their potential in both their careers and personal lives.

Enhanced on-site hygiene measures for participants’ safety
Public safety is a top priority for the HKTDC, and various measures have been implemented throughout these concurrent events to protect the health of participants. All staff members, exhibitors and visitors are required to wear masks in the venue and use the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app and show their COVID-19 vaccination record before entering the HKCEC in accordance with the HKSAR Government’s COVID-19 protocols. Except for designated food and beverage areas, no food, drinks or food tasting are allowed inside the venue, including at the booths. Other onsite safety measures include temperature-screening stations, the provision of hand sanitisers and disinfection items at multiple locations around the HKCEC, as well as enhanced cleaning and disinfection at the venue.

Expo website: https://event.hktdc.com/fair/hkeducationexpo-en/
Activity schedule: https://hkeducationexpo.hktdc.com/pdf/2022/events/ECE2022JulyDailyProgram.pdf
Photo download: https://bit.ly/3IVcwMv

Photo Caption:
Officiating at this morning’s opening ceremony were (from left) Gladys Yam, Deputy Executive Director of Vocational Training Council, Stefan Bredohl, Deputy Consul General of German Consulate General Hong Kong, Thomas Gnocchi, Head of office of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao, Margaret Fong, HKTDC Executive Director, Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Okada Kenichi, Consul General of Consulate General of Japan in Hong Kong, Marc Lamy, Acting Consul General of Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau and Albert Cheng, Executive Director of Construction Industry Council. https://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_HKTDC202207212.jpg

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries
Please contact Impact Communications Company:
Kristi Yim, Tel: +852 9559 9651, Email: kristi.yim@impact-cc.com
Cindy Chung, Tel: +852 9166 0827, Email: cindy.chung@impact-cc.com

HKTDC’s Corporate Communication Department:
Snowy Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

32nd HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, 5th Sports and Leisure Expo and 2nd World of Snacks open to the public today

City gets ready for a feast of reading and recreation

The 32nd HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), begins today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and runs until 26 July. Running in tandem with the Book Fair are the 5th HKTDC Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo and 2nd HKTDC World of Snacks. Together, they are host to more than 700 exhibitors. Officiating at today’s opening ceremony for the three events was John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), along with Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, and Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC.

John Lee (front row, centre), Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, officiated at today’s opening ceremony for the 2022 HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair along with Dr Peter K N Lam (front row, R), Chairman of the HKTDC, and Margaret Fong (front row, L), Executive Director of the HKTDC.
Hong Kong’s literature lovers eagerly awaited the opening of the Book Fair in the hope of buying their favourite books and discovering new reading adventures.
The second edition of World of Snacks presents a global selection of tasty treats.

As one of the events celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, this year’s Book Fair, under the theme “History and City Literature” and with the tagline “Reading the World: Stories of Hong Kong”, has gathered numerous acclaimed writers and will host more than 600 seminars and cultural activities at the HKCEC and across the city to celebrate the joy of reading.

Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: “As the first large-scale public event this year, we hope the Book Fair can help bring positive energy to the community. This year’s theme is ‘History & City Literature’. The fair’s Art Gallery features five ‘History Writers’ and 25 books from the ‘City Literature’ category chosen to mark the 25th Anniversary of the HKSAR. We hope the public can discover and be inspired by the city’s historical development.”

Thematic exhibitions highlight Hong Kong’s culture and history
In keeping with this year’s Book Fair theme, four exhibitions are being staged at the Art Gallery in the HKCEC Hall 3 Concourse. The “History Writers” exhibition features the works of five outstanding writers, namely (in no particular order) Ting Sun-pao, Lui Tai-lok, Elizabeth Sinn Yuk-yee, the late Yeh Ling-feng and Cheng Po-hung. A selection of their books, out-of-print works, manuscripts and precious memorabilia is on display to help readers understand the philosophy and inspiration behind their lives and works.

Ting Sun-pao will share his experiences delving into the past in a seminar titled “My Journey on Historical Research” this Friday (22 July), while Lui Tai-lok will analyse the historical context of Hong Kong from multiple perspectives in the seminar “Hong Kong Society’s Social Landscape: Description” (23 July). Elizabeth Sinn Yuk-yee will discuss the ups and downs experienced in her historical research in the seminar “Hardships and Joys in 40 years” (24 July). Yeh Zhong-min, attending the Book Fair on behalf of her late father, Yeh Ling-feng, will speak about his research into Hong Kong’s literature and history in the seminar “Hong Kong – My Second Home” (25 July). Meanwhile, Cheng Po-hung discusses the city’s culinary delights and entertainment development in two seminars, “A Century of Hong Kong Food and Delicacies” (20 July) and “A Century of Hong Kong’s Entertainment” (25 July).

“City Literature” features 25 literary works about Hong Kong by renowned local writers, including Xiao Si, Xi Xi, Eileen Chang, Shu Xiang-cheng, and Liu Yi-chang. There is an interactive exhibition that takes readers on a tour of the city from multiple perspectives through words and texts.

The two other thematic exhibitions are “Tastes of Hong Kong” and “Hong Kong Architecture”. Working in collaboration with Cheng Po-hung, Lau Tsz-chun, James Ng, Ng Gui-long, the Chinese Culinary Institute, Tao Heung Museum of Food Culture and Yung Kee Restaurant, “Tastes of Hong Kong” presents the evolution of Hong Kong’s culinary culture through valuable artefacts. The “Hong Kong Architecture” exhibition is run in partnership with Urban Sketchers Hong Kong and National Geographic, showcasing paintings and photographs by artists depicting Hong Kong’s historical sites and city landscapes.

“Eight Seminar Series” connects writers with booklovers
The “Eight Seminar Series” continues to be a major highlight at the Book Fair. The topics this year cover a wide spectrum of literary interests, including “Stories of Hong Kong”, “Renowned Writers”, “English and International Reading”, “World of Knowledge”, “Children and Youth Reading”, “Lifestyle”, “Hong Kong Culture and History”, and “Personal Development and Spiritual Growth”. Authors and booklovers are able to interact and exchange ideas at the seminars.

Partnering with Ming Pao and Yazhou Zhoukan, the HKTDC has again organised the “Renowned Writers Seminar Series”, inviting leading authors to share their creative journey and insights. Documentary photographer Liu Heung-shing shared his insights on capturing the visual history of the city in person today (20 July). Art curator Li Pi will describe how the M+ Museum has made Hong Kong a cultural capital in the region (21 July), while Hong Kong writer Shum Sai-shing will reminisce about the late Ni Kuang in the seminar “Recalling Our Literary Giant – Ni Kuang” (23 July).

The “English and International Reading Series” supported by Book Depository, an international online bookstore, has invited a number of famous English- and foreign-language writers to host virtual and in-person seminars, helping readers learn more about foreign cultures. Two British writers, Clare Mackintosh and Gillian McAllister, met reading enthusiasts virtually today (20 July). Clare Mackintosh described the way she moved from being a police officer to an accomplished crime writer, while Gillian McAllister shared her creative journey and the sources of her ideas.

This year’s fair also continues with the “Storytelling by Celebrities” events, inviting former Chinese champion diver Guo Jing-jing, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council Gilly Wong and Hong Kong Museum of Art Chief Curator Mok Ka-wing to tell their inspirational stories to children. For seminars registration and authors line-up at the Book Fair, please visit: https://hkbookfair.hktdc.com/en/Events/Event-Schedule.html

Thematic zones present diverse cultures
The Book Fair features numerous thematic zones, including General Books Pavilion, English Avenue, University Press Square, Spirituality Zone, Children’s Paradise and more. The International Cultural Village is attended by representatives of various consulates in Hong Kong to promote their own cultures and publications. The Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau will present French culture through classic works of art in the seminar “Uncovering the Smile of the Mona Lisa”, while the Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong and Macau will introduce the attractions of Switzerland in the seminar “Exploring Switzerland through Train Rides”. The Virtual Classroom zone continues to cater to the new normal in teaching. For instance, a Hong Kong start-up highlights its research and development into cloud-based interactive virtual classrooms, providing artificial intelligence and programming certificate courses and assisting schools to promote science and technology education.

Cultural July in hybrid mode
Alongside the Book Fair, the HKTDC is collaborating with numerous partners, including the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, publishers, cultural and educational institutions, shopping malls and cafes, to organise a series of more than 300 cultural events in the 18 districts of Hong Kong as part of the “Cultural July” campaign. This year, a set of four exquisite Chocolate Rain stickers has been designed for the event. Participants can redeem gifts at the Book Fair after collecting a full set of four stickers. For further details, please visit: https://hkbookfair.hktdc.com/CulturalJuly

Exciting experiences at Sports and Leisure Expo
This year’s Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo features eight thematic zones – Sports Hub, Outdoor Adventure, Health & Fitness, Fun & Learn, Board Games, Photography World, Japan Pavilion and Handicraft Market – presenting a variety of sports and leisure brands, products and experiences.

A range of fun activities is offered in the Sports Hub zone for visitors to enjoy free of charge, including an e-sports racing competition and simulator trials, lacrosse demonstrations and mini-games. Exhibitors from the Health & Fitness zone are offering free massages and a massage-chair experience while Fun & Learn promotes boules and petanque along with a 3D printing workshop. Hong Kong racing driver Darryl O’Young and members of the Hong Kong Baseball Association have also been invited to join the sharing sessions at the expo.

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and nine Japanese prefectures and cities have once again joined the Japan Pavilion to showcase the country’s attractions and cultural characteristics. JNTO’s experience hall has set up a Japanese hotspot map to display the featured attractions and delicacies of many counties and cities. Visitors can choose their own Japanese tour route from the map according to their preferences. Meanwhile, Kadokawa Corporation, among the top four publishing houses in Japan, has collaborated with Tottori Prefecture to introduce local cultural highlights and bestselling books and magazines from Japan. There will also be sessions on traditional Japanese dance, strategies for travelling in Japan and more to showcase the charm of Japanese culture.

In addition, Photography World and Board Games showcase a variety of products, including the world’s first F2 aperture mirrorless camera with a high-magnification zoom lens, Kodak cameras, and fascinating table games with Hong Kong themes.

World of Snacks returns with global selection of tasty treats
Following the success of last year’s debut event, World of Snacks returns to feature six thematic zones – Travel Delights, Chocolate and Sweet Factory, Oldie Snacks, Yummy & Healthy, Party Time and Snack Bar – bringing together more than 1,200 popular treats from across the globe.

Public safety is a top priority for the HKTDC, and various measures have been implemented throughout these concurrent events to protect the health of the participants. All staff members, exhibitors and visitors are required to wear masks in the venue, use the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app and show their COVID-19 vaccination record before entering the HKCEC in accordance with the HKSAR Government’s COVID-19 protocols. Other onsite safety measures include temperature-screening stations, the provision of hand sanitisers and disinfection items at multiple locations around the HKCEC, as well as enhanced cleaning and disinfection provision at the venue. Visitors are encouraged to make purchases using e-payment, which is accepted by about 85% of the exhibitors.

To ensure a more even flow of visitors throughout the day, the HKTDC has introduced morning admission tickets, night admission tickets as well as a special re-entry promotion. There are no physical ticket sales at the fairground in order to avoid the use of cash and minimise contact. Visitors can pay with their Octopus cards at the entrance’s toll booths. More details of the ticketing arrangements can be found below.

The HKTDC Education & Careers Expo will be held at the HKCEC from tomorrow (21 July) to 24 July, running in parallel with the Book Fair and other events. Youngsters and jobseekers can access the latest information on education and career opportunities at this one-stop event. Admission is free of charge.

Websites:

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly SMEs, in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries
Hong Kong Book Fair
HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clementine Cheung, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: clementine.hm.cheung@hktdc.org
Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Agnes Yiu, Tel: +852 3428 5690, Email: ayiu@yuantung.com.hk
Hing-Fung Wong, Tel: +852 3428 3122, Email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hk

Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo, World of Snacks

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Frankie Leung, Tel: +852 2584 4298, Email: frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Tiffany Leung, Tel: +852 3428 2361, Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk