College student Li Xiaoqun was growing impatient waiting at the entrance to the fair with a cardboard sign reading 'English interpreter'.
After standing for half a day, she still did not have any business.
'It is pretty bad. You can see nobody is coming. It must be because of the financial crisis, so no businessmen from the US are coming. It is why no one needs an English interpreter,' she said.
Ms Li was one of about 100 interpreters outside the convention centre hoping to earn 200 to 300 yuan (HK$227 to HK$340) by interpreting for foreign buyers for a day.
But she said her main goal was to practise English and accumulate contacts to pave the way for a full-time job as an interpreter after graduation next year.
'If I spoke another language, I think the situation must be better. The Spanish interpreters are charging 500 to 600 yuan a day,' she said.