Products expo to tickle palettes with deli area

A long-awaited deli area will be set up for the first time since the pandemic at the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo in Victoria Park in December, said the organizer, Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong.

The 24-day expo will take place from December 16 to January 8, featuring 900 booths, and will include a food plaza offering treats from stinky tofu to grilled lobster and abalone.

Association president Allen Shi Lop-tak is confident the expo can attract visitor numbers similar to prepandemic levels, saying that the number of booths is up 10 percent over last year.

"Our exhibitions are in carnival style, and they are mostly held during long holidays," he said.

"We think our exhibitions, like the Brands and Products Expo, are still popular with the public, as we mostly sell daily necessities and food. We are very confident about our exhibitions, and indeed we received an enthusiastic response from our exhibitors."

He said the expo has gained a good reputation and the enthusiasm among exhibitors shows that the Hong Kong market has improved.

It is one of four exhibitions that CMA is laying out, including the Hong Kong International Education and Careers Expo at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre this weekend.

The education expo will host colleges and institutions from 24 countries and regions, including Hong Kong and the mainland.

It will feature a Career Square job fair offering more than 2,000 vacancies from over 40 companies and organizations, such as Hong Kong's five disciplinary forces, Labour Department and Airport Authority.

More than 40 seminars will be conducted by college representatives and counselors on pathways to universities in the SAR, the mainland and overseas, strategies for JUPAS [Joint University Programmes Admissions System], introductions to popular programs, career opportunities in the Greater Bay Area and introduction to the Holland Code job aptitude test.

Student consultant Ng Po-shing from Hok Yau Club said despite the current trend toward artificial intelligence, students should weigh their options when choosing programs for further studies.

The association will also hold the Brands and Products Shopping Festival from August 4 to 7 at AsiaWorld-Expo, and Food Carnival at Kwai Chung Sports Ground from October 28 to November 5.

While the four-day shopping festival will feature 300 booths from six zones covering healthcare, household and fashion products, the nine-day Food Carnival will include 300 booths.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com