Returning Brands & Products Expo Targets HK$1bn Sales

Organisers of the Brands and Products Expo say they hope to hit HK$1 billion in sales as the event returns for the first time since 2019.

The annual fair which showcases products from Hong Kong businesses, was scrapped last year due to the pandemic. It returns this year with a no-tasting rule at food stalls and compulsory use of the LeaveHomeSafe app for non-exempt visitors.

The infection-control measures did not deter enthusiastic visitors, dozens of whom queued up in Victoria Park ahead of the fair's opening on Saturday morning.

"I came here on the opening day to see if there are any cheap goods. I am planning to use several thousand dollars to buy some soup ingredients and snacks. It doesn't really matter [that we can't sample any of the food], because I have bought these before," one of the visitors told RTHK.

But she felt that there were fewer visitors compared to previous years.

Another visitor said he already received three Covid-19 jabs and isn't concerned about infection risks.

"It's been tough as we haven't had any activities or travel for so long. I want to take this opportunity to walk around. I will buy everything, because we need to boost Hong Kong's economy," he said.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam and her ministers were also among the first to the expo, with home affairs chief Caspar Tsui saying he brought a shopping trolley and purchased some soy sauce.

Allen Shi, the president of event organiser the Chinese Manufacturers' Association, hopes a million people will visit the fair during its 24 days and that many will spend the government-issued consumption vouchers that were handed out as a pandemic relief measure earlier this year.

"We have great confidence in sales, as we are approaching the Christmas and New Year spending season. We hope business can return to levels before the pandemic... I believe people still haven't used up their consumption vouchers, and the economy has improved recently, so I don't think sales will drop," he said.

Shi noted that a maximum of 15,000 people will be allowed to enter the expo at a time, and people will have to wait if it gets too crowded.

He added that more staff have been deployed to help those who are allowed to jot down their details instead of using the LeaveHomeSafe app, such as elderly people.

Visitors who break infection-control measures will first be warned and then asked to leave if they continue to disobey, Shi said.