Exhibitors at one of Hong Kong’s largest annual bazaars expect sales to rise by up to 20 per cent from last year, citing higher attendance and good weather as they introduce modern twists to some traditional food products.
The 59th edition of the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo, organised by the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, opened on Saturday at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay and will run until January 5.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po was among the first customers, visiting booths that sold supplements, candles and coffee, while also sampling food items such as noodles, sea cucumber and dim sum.
The 24-day expo includes more than 900 booths selling food, home appliances, and beauty and health products at hefty discounts, with some offering reinventions of traditional products to attract customers.
“We brought 20 per cent more stock with us this year,” said Lisa Lau, managing director of Ah Yat Abalone Princess, a shop famed for its HK$1 (13 US cents) promotion of a bagful of abalone products worth HK$460 for the first 20 orders.
“We used to do this offer only on the first day of the fair, but we’re doing it for eight days this year in response to the organiser’s call, in the hope of helping spread some joy after what had happened in Tai Po,” she said, referring to the deadly fire that killed at least 160 people last month.