HKCEC's Managing Director Cliff Wallace and Director of Operations Kandy Chan celebrate the 888th exhibition with Kenfair International Ltd's Director Duncan Cheung (left)

"I've been a good client of the HKCEC ever since we staged the first International Hong Kong Toys and Gifts Show in 1992," said Duncan Cheung. "But I never expected them to throw a party to celebrate the 9th edition in 2000!" What actually happened was that Duncan's latest show, which his company staged concurrently with the 8th Asian Gifts, Premium and Household Products Show, turned out to be the 888th exhibition since the HKCEC opened in 1988.

So-o-o-o? Well, the number "888" in Cantonese sounds a bit like the Cantonese for "fortune fortune fortune". We Hong Kong people love this sort of thing and we love partying too, so that's how Duncan's team got their specially baked cake and their champagne. [Other organisers and exhibitors might try slipping this number into their next request to the HKCEC to see what goodies they will come up with. Hot tip- "1628" means "continuing easy fortune": Ed.]

Seriously, Duncan noted that right from his first show - "It was a very small show then, with just 150 exhibitors" he says. He has always found the HKCEC tops for service. "Now we have 2,795 exhibitors," he went on. "The HKCEC team are utterly dedicated to making sure that every show flows smoothly and that there are plenty of opportunities for promotions."

"This is certainly Asia's five-star exhibition venue," he said. "The facilities are elegant as well as highly functional and the service we organisers get makes all the difference. Visitors too find the whole experience very smooth and secure, despite the huge attendances that the HKCEC is famous for."