Food sales will be allowed at the annual Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo to be held later this year, ending a ban that was imposed because of the pandemic.

"Because the pandemic is over, we are able to put up the food stalls to provide food for the visitors so they can consume the food inside the venue," said Ralph Chow, CEO of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association which organises the expo.

"That would mean they can eat inside the venue and then continue their shopping in our expo... This would be the major feature this year after the pandemic."

Last year, only food tasting was allowed.

The 24-day expo is scheduled for December and January at Victoria Park.

Chow said the total number of booths will go up to 900 from 800, and visitor numbers are expected to exceed last year's figure of more than one million.

"Before the pandemic, we could attract quite a lot of mainland visitors to our expo. So we expect with the opening up of the border, there will be more mainland visitors to our expo this year," he said.