Shoppers flocked to Victoria Park eager to seize final opportunities at the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo as the 24-day annual event drew to a close on Monday.

Many arrived early, with queues forming and shopping trolleys at the ready well before the 11am opening, hoping to secure limited-time discounts on a wide range of goods.

With Lunar New Year approaching, attendees like a woman surnamed Chau were stocking up on festive items.

“I came to buy fish maw and dried seafood,” said Chau, who was making her third visit to the expo this year.

“I thought the products were cheaper compared to previous years, possibly because more people are shopping on the mainland."

Chau said some items that usually cost in excess of HK$1,000 had prices reduced to around HK$700.

"Since the quality was good and fresh, I came back for more,” she said.

Other shoppers adopted a more relaxed approach.

One woman said she had no set budget and was browsing for anything that caught her eye while also enjoying the variety of street food available.

Exhibitors reported mixed results, with a seller of ginseng and dried seafood noting that foot traffic and sales were better than expected.

"Our prices are already much lower than store prices, which makes them attractive to shoppers," she said.

However, an imported food vendor observed that strong crowds did not always lead to strong sales.

"A lot of expos have changed. They all sell products that can be found anywhere, prompting customers to focus solely on finding the lowest price," he said.

He suggested that organisers introduce more unique products to enhance the expo's appeal and distinctiveness.

Organisers posted notices outside the venue indicating that the event would close an hour earlier than usual at 8pm, with admission stopping at 7pm.