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A shopper munches on a snack as one of the city's biggest retail fairs comes to an end in Victoria Park yesterday. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong expo takings up despite warnings over Occupy protests

49th Brands and Products Expo proves a big hit as sales rise 15 per cent despite fall in mainland visitors, cold weather and Occupy Central

Kathy Gao

Last-minute bargain hunters helped push total takings past HK$900 million as the curtain went down on one of the city's biggest annual retail fairs yesterday.

Sales at the 49th Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo were up 15 per cent on the year before, the organiser, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association, said.

The increase came despite the association's concerns about the effect of the pro-democracy Occupy Central movement, which was still blockading a stretch of Yee Wo Street, near the fair's venue at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, when the expo kicked off on December 13.

CMA president Eddy Li Sau-hung said the cool temperatures this winter had also failed to dampen the enthusiasm of shoppers for the 24-day retail showcase, which involved more than 400 companies.

Yesterday, shoppers pushed trolleys and suitcases down the lines of booths, buying everything from groceries and cooking utensils to winter clothes.

"I want to buy more so they can last until next year's expo."

Another shopper said she spent HK$1,000 on instant noodles, dried seafood and other snacks yesterday.

On the first day of the fair, exhibitors sold three air conditioners at HK$1 each, briefly sparking chaos. But at the closing yesterday, some shoppers complained the promotions that exhibitors offered did not represent huge bargains.

Vendors, on their part, said they had seen better sales in this year's expo, although some noted a drop in the number of mainland visitors.

For the traders, the expo was not just a chance to make cash from Christmas shoppers but also a marketing opportunity.

"It's a good platform to promote our products," David Cheuk, manager of a company selling baby health products, said.

She said the company's sales rose about 20 per cent this year from a year ago despite the fewer numbers of mainlanders, a big-spending staple of the expo in years past.

"Tourists from the mainland have decreased this year, which could be because of the political situation in Hong Kong," Li said.

Chen Kwan-fong, deputy manager of Safewell, a manufacturer of safes, said its sales at this year's event were up 15 per cent. "We offered some of our products at half price. We have achieved our goal for this year."

 

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Takings hit HK$900m as annual fair ends
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