Hong Kong people on Wednesday had their first opportunity to go mask-free in public for more than two and a half years.

The Chief Executive, John Lee, announced the end of the mask mandate on Tuesday, although they are still needed in settings such as care homes and hospitals.

RTHK reporters around town noted that the overwhelming majority of MTR passengers continued to wear masks. But outdoors, about half of people took up the option to go maskless.

"It's great to see human faces again and it's great to see people smiling on the street. I love it. But I've got some thoughts into which lipstick should I wear. I put extra effort on my make up because it's my first time [without a mask]," a woman surnamed Leung told RTHK.

A woman surnamed Hsu who had donned a mask said she wasn't that worried about getting infected with Covid, but didn't want to waste her supplies.

"I was infected before, but I still have a lot of masks at home, a few hundred of them. I think this is just the beginning of the no-mask period, so it's still safe to wear a mask indoors," she said.

Meanwhile, two international jewellery shows returned on Wednesday, making them the first mask-free indoor international events in the SAR for years.

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council said the shows had been scaled-up, with more than 2,500 companies from 36 countries and regions.

A buyer named Lisa told RTHK she had travelled from England just to attend the shows.

"When they took the mask mandate off, I thought it's great! For many years I've been coming, but I've never been to a show as crowded as it is here. I think everybody is excited to come and buy jewellery again. It's a celebration!"

A vendor surnamed Jain said he was expecting a lot of customers from the mainland.

"Looking at the lines, probably a lot more people are expected. China's market opened up, so we are expecting more Chinese buyers to come. But a lot of overseas buyers cancelled their trip to Hong Kong, as they're still afraid to come," he said.