Exhibitors at HKTDC Food Expo voice concern over souring consumer appetite and protest impact on business in Hong Kong
- Fair venue falls near route of planned Sunday march, with flights and stock shipments influenced by airport disruption in recent days
- Sales at annual event expected to fall by as much as 80 per cent from last year
Exhibitors at the popular HKTDC Food Expo this year have expressed concern over the anti-government protests gripping the city, citing souring consumer appetite and impact on operations.
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the annual five-day food fair, alongside four other lifestyle events, will kick off on Thursday, featuring more than 2,100 vendors from over 20 countries and cities.
While the airport has become the latest focus for protesters, the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, the expo venue, will be along the route of a Sunday march planned on Hong Kong Island.
Council deputy executive director Benjamin Chau said he was concerned about whether foreign exhibitors – who form about half of all vendors at the event – flying into the city would be affected by the airport protest, where violence erupted on Tuesday night and hundreds of flights were cancelled from the start of the week.
Demonstrations at the transport hub have since waned, with a court injunction obtained by the operator to limit protests to just two designated areas at the arrival hall.
