HKCEC Exhibition News What's New

HKCEC Exhibition News Issue 8, October 2002

CEI Asia Pacific magazine, one of the leading trade magazines in the region published by SCMP Haymarket, recently ranked the HKCEC Asia's No. 1 exhibition venue based on a poll of exhibition organisers. At the same time, Hong Kong was voted Asia's No. 1 exhibition city. Please view the full survey report for more details.

Value and quality underpin all the HKCEC's services. "We work with the industry to ensure our clients get what they need to make their business successful," says Joanne Davis, Deputy Managing Director of the HKCEC.

The Marketing Initiatives programme first announced in 1999 has been extended offering more flexible and diverse pricing and booking options.

"We have world-class facilities," says Davis. "At the same time, we recognise that the economy has been challenging for all of our customers. Our job is to provide them with the best environment to develop their business and promote trade between Hong Kong, China and the rest of the world. This package of incentives is designed to make sure that our clients can continue to do that just as well during this period as they did over the past 14 years."

Check the HKCEC Marketing Initiatives 2003 for details.

The HKCEC's Convention Hall and Convention Foyer re-opened in early September following a HK$45 million renovation. The upgrade was part of an ongoing series of venue renovations and improvements to enhance further the Centre's position as a world-class facilitily for exhibitions, conventions and hospitality events.

The ceiling, walls, carpet, light and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems have all been improved in this latest round of work.

Cliff Wallace, HKCEC's Managing Director said, "The distinctive architectural blend of modern design and advanced technologies of Convention Hall, coupled with our professional expertise, will provide each event with added value and quality."

Hong Kong's trade fair industry showed improved performance in every important measure in 2001 according to a recent survey. The Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Organisers' and Suppliers' Association (HKECOSA) says that the findings of its annual research exercise demonstrate "the remarkable resilience of this industry and the way in which Hong Kong's leading regional position has been cemented by developments in the past couple of years".

Of particular importance to the Territory's future, said HKECOSA Chairman Stanley Chu, is the robust growth in participation in Hong Kong events from the rest of the China. Some 82,397 Mainland buyers attended Hong Kong events in 2001, up 68% on 2000.

Overall, almost 31,000 companies from all over the world used Hong Kong exhibitions to promote themselves, up a healthy 18.6% on 2000 and almost 70% on 1996 numbers. "The fact that around 50% of companies exhibiting at Hong Kong trade fairs are from outside the HKSAR just goes to show what a truly international business centre we are," Chu said.

The survey data was compiled from confidential returns submitted by all major organisers. Of the 31 companies participating, 25 were based in Hong Kong, one elsewhere in Asia and 5 from other parts of the world.

Concluding his review of the 2001 data, HKECOSA's Chu said, "Hong Kong remains far and away the most important trade fair centre for China and the region. We have world-class exhibition facilities and organisers backed up by tourism and financial infrastructure that is second to none."

One of the pioneers of trade fairs in Hong Kong and China, Mr Stanley Chu, Chairman of Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd, has been elected as the Chairman of the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Organisers' and Suppliers' Association (HKECOSA) for 2002 to 2004. Following his election,Chu said the Association would continue its efforts to promote Hong Kong as the regional hub of exhibitions and conventions. In his inaugural speech, he encouraged more co-operation and interaction with the neighbouring cities in the Pearl River Delta area, making the whole area a regional economy of great vitality.

Chu said HKECOSA would concentrate on four major areas. First of all, they would work with related parties to establish and promote Hong Kong as the 'Exhibition and Convention Capital' in the Asia Pacific region. Secondly, HKECOSA would commit to raise the professional standard of the industry through education and training programmes. Thirdly, they would strengthen the networking of the industry by providing a communication platform for their members. Lastly, HKECOSA would represent the interest of the industry and its members and communicate with the government, legislative and relevant bodies as well as the media in a unifying voice.

HKECOSA was established in May, 1990. It is an association composed of major exhibition and convention organisers as well as industry suppliers. It has over 50 members.

The HKSAR Government's Travel Pass scheme has been relaxed to make it more attractive and useful for business people who wish to visit Hong Kong. Effective 2nd July 2002, the eligibility for a Travel Pass will be reduced from five trouble-free trips to Hong Kong in the previous 12 months to just three trips. This will be of particular benefit to those who are regular visitors to Hong Kong's major trade fairs.

The Travel Pass is a machine readable document which is valid for three years and multiple entries into Hong Kong. Holders are permitted to use the Hong Kong Residents counters at border checkpoints. Application forms and leaflets of the Travel Pass are now available at HKCEC's Information Counters and Cyber Cafe. Information and application forms are also available on the Government website at http://www.info.gov.hk/immd/pdforms/id888.pdf

"With more business travellers using the Travel Pass to travel to Hong Kong, there will be more local business activities," a Government spokesman commented.