Hong Kong’s largest food festival of the year on Thursday kicked off alongside four other trade fairs at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

Long queues formed well before the doors of the Food Expo opened at 10am, with enthusiastic bargain hunters eager to snatch cut-price deals and freebies.

A secondary school student who arrived at 6.30am was hoping to grab HK$1 ready-to-eat abalone.

“It’s summer break, so I didn’t have much on and decided to come over for the experience,” he said.

“This is my first time coming so early. It’s been a fun experience and gives me a better idea of how to prepare for next time.”

Another shopper took part in a mini-game for the second year in a row, taking home one of the top prizes — around HK$8,000 worth of free abalone.

“I started queuing about two or three days ago,” he said.

“Playing the game is great. At other booths, you have to rush in and scramble for freebies, but this one actually takes a bit of skill.”

The vendor running the game was offering discounts of around 15 percent and expects sales to grow by five to 10 percent.

“We’re confident in our sales this year,” a store representative said.

“Last year the weather was a bit of a let-down. This year, we’ve launched a line of everyday household items to attract more family visitors. Even if they don't plan to buy anything they can give it a try.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Financial Secretary Paul Chan noted that the five fairs brought together more than 1,850 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions, including participation from all 11 Asean member states for the first time.

He also highlighted the SAR’s strength as the ideal platform for brands expanding into different markets.

“More than 230 mega events, some 3.6 million visitors are expected to come from around the world, an increase of more than 20 percent compared to the previous year. These events will bring some HK$12 billion in spending to the city,” he said.

“Add to that, our international outlook, efficient supply chains, and professional strengths in certification, quality assurance and brand building — and we are no doubt the best platform for brands looking to connect with markets across the regions.”

The five-day food expo runs through Monday.

Opening hours are from 10am to 10pm for the first four days, closing early at 6pm on the final day.

Tickets range from HK$10 to HK$40 depending on the access tier, while admission is free for children under three and seniors aged 65 or above.



Edited by Tony Sabine