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SCMP Reporter

KEEPING pace with the needs of business and commerce is a top priority for the Hong Kong Trade Fair Group (TFG).

    Last February, the TFG was bought by the London-based firm United Newspapers PLC.

  ''We now have access to a worldwide communication network, benefiting our growth and creating opportunities for Hong Kong,'' the general manager of TFG, Michael Duck, said.

   The group, established in 1980, continues to play an important role in promoting Hong Kong as the convention and exhibition centre of Asia.

  Following the success of Expoship Far East, which was the first maritime exhibition in the territory, the group introduced the Hong Kong Leather Fair, which has now been re-named the Asia Pacific Leather Fair.

  ''The fair has proved so popular it is now our flagship exhibition and the largest trade fair of its kind in Asia, as well as Hong Kong's biggest trade fair,'' Mr Duck said.

   Last April's Leather Fairhad a record 3,400 exhibitors, and a record number of visitors - more than 36,000.

  The event, organised in conjunction with the Paris-based Semaine International du Cuir, occupied 55,000 square metres of floor space, and was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and China Resources Exhibition Centre.

  For the first time it was divided into two parts - raw materials and manufacturing, and fashion and finished products.

  ''We felt that dividing the fair in this way was a logical progression, given the continuous growth in demand, which was in danger of being constrained by space limitations. We were delighted by the response,'' Mr Duck said.

  There was significant growth in attendance from several countries, including Britain (up by 124 per cent), the United States (up by 118 per cent), and China (up by 229 per cent).

  New participants were Iceland, Papua New Guinea, Slovenia, Libya, Panama and Greece.

  During the past 10 years, the number of exhibiting companies had risen from 343 to more than 3,100.

 The largest group was Italy with 590 exhibitors. Taiwan, with 200 exhibitors, represented the largest Asian group.

  Mr Duck said both buyer and exhibitor attendance was higher than expected.

  ''Compared with Leather 93, there was an overall increase of 76 per cent in the number of buyers visiting the fair, reinforcing the fact that the Asia-Pacific has become the key region for the leather industry as a whole,'' he said.

  The Hong Kong Cosmetics Hair and Beauty, now recognised as Asia's premier beauty event, is a another success story.

   Last June, 30 countries took part, with a record 350 exhibitors.

  ''The fair has expanded by around 40 per cent over each of the last three years,'' Mr Duck said.

  In 1995, the TFG will stage 16 exhibitions in Asia and plans to increase that number beyond the year 2000.

  ''Whereas the Trade Development Council has a strong focus on China and Hong Kong, we have been working to broaden and expand our growth opportunities in Asia,'' he said.

  ''We are identifying trade shows within groups around the world that are lacking in Hong Kong and the region and at acquisitions that could be brought into our portfolio.''   The TFG has a varied programme of trade events, including shipping in China and Japan, a motor show in Singapore, air traffic controllers' exhibitions, and others involving diving, tropical fish, paper, and unwoven fabrics.

  The Convention and Exhibition Centre had been a great draw for the industry, as the definitive place for such events within China.



Group's takeover benefits territory