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The long-awaited Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo (HKBPE) is finally here! It starts today and runs through 31 December 2019 at Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. Organised by the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong (CMA), the 22-day expo features 700 booths with a wide range of products at great prices, offering splendid shopping experiences for visitors.
Thousands of citizens queued to snap up the bargains at the opening of the expo. The 54th HKBPE features 10 theme zones, namely “Hong Kong Brands Square”, “Food & Beverages Zone”, “Grocery & Noodles Zone”, “Dried Seafood & Soup Packs Zone”, “Beauty & Healthcare Zone”, Fashion & Stylish Products Zone”, “Living & Household Zone”, “Food Plaza”, “Social Enterprises Zone” and “Promotion Zone”, to cater for the needs of different customers.
Deep discounts are always highlights of the HKBPE. This year, the expo wows Hong Kong citizens with three waves of promotional offers. The first wave, beginning today until 15 December, refers to the kickoff promotion with most of the products being available at massive discounts of at least 70% off, or even at HK$1 only. The second wave runs throughout the entire expo period, during which selected items will be sold at discounted prices up to 40% off, such as “HK$288 lucky bag of Australian abalone” (retail value: HK$680) and “HK$359 wool soybean winter quilt” (retail value: HK$1,099). The CMA also rolls out the first-ever night time promotion as the third wave where hundreds of selected products are on sale at “Buy One, Get One Free” after 5pm every day.
In addition to the great deals, a large number of prizes also garner the most attention. This year, prizes with a total value of HK$3.8 million will be given out in the form of games, lucky draws or redemptions. For instance, the CMA will draw 3 winners every day and each can get a prize valued at up to HK$7,000.
For the convenience of visitors, the CMA has introduced electronic payments to the expo since 2017. This year, we join hands with a number of payment solutions providers and banks to offer shoppers with more instant discounts. These include: HK$10 off upon spending HK$100 or above with Master Card and Faster Payment System, whereas users of WeChat Pay HK can get discount of HK$5 for purchase of HK$50 or above at food and beverage stalls or HK$20 off on spending of HK$200 or above at selected booths.
In line with the spirit of giving back to society and its usual practice of donating part of the expo’s income to support social causes, the CMA continues invite underprivileged groups to the HKBPE and each beneficial family can receive a HK$300 shopping coupon. Donations are also made to “Helping Hands” and “The Society for the Relief of Disabled Children” through the charity auctions. An array of items worth nearly HK$100,000 in total, including massage chair (retail value: HK$16,800), Chinese banquets (retail value: HK$10,000) and “abalone and dried seafood gift parcel” (retail value: HK$3,212), have been donated by the CMA General Committee Members and exhibitors. All these products will go on sale at auctions with starting bids of only 10% of their retail prices. CMA Permanent Honorary Presidents and General Committee members actively participated in a private auction session held today and HK$150,000 was raised. Two public auctions will be held on 13 December and 21 December and all expo visitors are invited to join to spread love to elderly and ill children.
The HKBPE also offers free booths to 32 social enterprises. The products they are selling, including handmade items, food and daily necessities, are mainly produced by disadvantaged. Visitors’ support can be helpful for these enterprises to raise capital and help people in need. In addition, a number of young entrepreneurs who won the “TEEN Start-up Biz” competition, are also entitled to exhibit at the expo for free for gaining more real-world business experience.
The CMA has arranged an exciting lineup of special programmes and activities for visitors to explore. The 10 contestants for the signature event “Miss Exhibition Pageant” appeared for the first time today. They took the stage to vie for two awards namely “The Most Eye-catching” and “The Most Charming”, and winner of these awards is Miss Ho Tsz Ying representing Cheong Hing Store Ltd. The grand finale and prize presentation ceremony will take place on 31 December.
The newly launched “HKBPE KOL Contest” is also in the spotlight. At the final competition to be held on 27 December, the 10 well-equipped contestants will compete for various awards and an employment opportunity offered by Metro Broadcast. Spell-binding radio shows, dance and singing performance and Chinese operas are also featured to thrill and entertain visitors of all ages and interests.
The expo is open from 11am to 8pm daily (except 31 December, closing at 6pm). Admission tickets are HK$8 each (free admission for children under 1 meter in height, citizens over the age of 65, and persons with disabilities). As a special arrangement for this year, all visitors need to go through security checks when entering the expo. People can get the details about the visitors’ rules and regulations and also other detailed information about the expo easily on the official website www.hkbpe.com.hk, Wechat, Instagram and Facebook page.
