The financial chief highlighted Hong Kong's key advantage in hosting Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) events, stating that the city is expanding the capacity for world-class exhibitions to deepen the unique role in connecting mainland China and the world.
Delivering his speech at the 92nd UFI Global Congress 2025, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said AsiaWorld-Expo and Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre jointly hosted more than 300 events last year, drawing over nine million participants.
Chan said Hong Kong is stepping up its role as a global hub for MICE, with AsiaWorld-Expo undergoing a major expansion, in which the venue is expected to add more than 330,000 square meters of exhibition space by 2028.
He added that Hong Kong's main advantage is convenient access for mainland and international visitors. In the first 10 months, 41 million visitors were received, a 12 percent increase over last year.
The government is also combining MICE activities with sports, cultural events, pop music, horse racing, dining and so on to enrich visitor experiences, encouraging longer and more frequent stays in Hong Kong, the financial chief said.
Returning to Hong Kong after 25 years, the four-day UFI Global Congress -- the exhibition industry’s largest global meeting of the year -- attracted over 600 industry leaders from more than 50 economies around the world to network and learn.
In addition to representatives from mainland, Europe, the US, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific, this year’s edition also attracts leaders from South America, Africa and Eastern Europe.
To showcase an immersive Hong Kong experience, AsiaWorld-Expo -- the venue for the Congress -- integrated dynamic local elements into the program. With the theme of “Culinary Delights, Artisanal Crafts, and Cultural Experiences,” delegates enjoyed Cantonese delicacies, dim sum demonstrations, Hong Kong’s iconic red-white-blue cultural motifs, mahjong experiences, and locally designed art pieces.
The Congress also presents a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights, network with peers, and uncover the latest industry trends and innovations.
In collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, AsiaWorld-Expo capitalized on the gathering of global industry leaders to promote bleisure tourism, enhancing Hong Kong’s appeal as an international MICE and travel hub.
Many delegates arrived early or extended their stay as AWE curated a series of cultural, artistic, and city experiences, including a Congress Dinner at M+ in the West Kowloon Cultural District and the highly popular “Tram Party in Hong Kong,” which allowed delegates to experience the city’s unique blend of heritage and modern vibrancy.
Delegates were also invited to Lan Kwai Fong to enjoy Hong Kong’s signature nightlife. In addition, post-congress tours with themed exploration routes were offered, encouraging delegates to further discover Hong Kong’s local culture, iconic landmarks, and natural ecology.
