‘ Recover , reopen and rebrand ’ are the watchwords now for the destination ’ s MICE sector .

There has finally been a gradual relaxation of Covidrelated restrictions and Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre ( Management ) Limited ( HML ) believes that the HKSAR Government ’ s latest anti-epidemic measures of 0 + 3 and cancellation of pre-boarding PCR test requirements for inbound visitors means that overseas exhibitors and buyers can now start planning their trips to attend trade fairs in Hong Kong again .

Monica Lee-Müller , outgoing UFI president and managing director of HML , travelled to Singapore and Oman recently to attend the Asia CEO Summit and UFI Global Congress , respectively , partly to assure event organisers of HML ’ s commitment to run events safely , efficiently and sustainably .

Quarantine arrangements upon arrival at Hong Kong have been changed so that no compulsory quarantine will be required . From 17 November onward , visitors compliant with Hong Kong Vaccine Pass , which allows for three days of medical surveillance from the day of arrival , have been allowed to attend B2B conventions and exhibitions .

HML and industry partners continue to lobby for the complete

removal of all inbound restrictions , which they see as vital for rebuilding confidence of overseas organisers and participants .

Some big shows have , due to restrictions in recent months , relocated , albeit temporarily , to other countries . “ In the long term , we hope these events will return ,” an HML spokesperson tells EW , “ and new exhibitions will choose Hong Kong , restoring Hong Kong ’ s leadership status as the International Trade Fair Capital of Asia .”

Organiser Informa Markets is optimistic , and has announced the return ( from Singapore ) of Hong Kong ’ s June and September Jewellery & Gem Fairs in 2023 .

And there are incentives available to embolden organisers further : the HKSAR government says it will further extend the existing Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme for six months to 30 June 2023 . As at 30 September 2022 , the Scheme had subsidised 175 exhibitions , involving a total subsidy of about HK $ 467m . The government will also launch a new HK $ 1.4bn scheme on 1 July 2023 to subsidise more than 200 exhibitions to be staged in Hong Kong over three years . More details to be announced .

HML has also invested HK $ 1bn in the HKCEC Five-Year Advancement Project to ensure the long-term development of the exhibition industry and business at the venue , which is now fully covered by 5G network and has exhibition halls and ballrooms renovated .

With the gradual relaxation of travel restrictions , a number of large scale international medical , financial and engineering conferences are already in the pipeline for HML ,

Stuart Bailey , chairman of the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association

including the 24th Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology Congress 2022 , 6-9 December 2022 , while recurrent and new exhibitions have earmarked their dates in the HKCEC calendar .

EW took the opportunity at the recent UFI Congress in Oman to seek the opinions of Stuart Bailey , chairman of the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association ( HKECIA ) and Marylin Tham , deputy general manager , MICE , Hong Kong Tourism Board .

Bailey notes that January 2020 was the last time Hong Kong ran an international show , the TDC Toy Fair . “ So , we are moving towards two and a half years without international trade shows . The industry in a normal year is a significant contributor to Hong Kong ’ s economy with an economic impact of HK $ 58.6bn , which is just over 2 % of Hong Kong ’ s GDP . There ’ s only four things in Hong Kong that have duty on them : fuel , methanol , cigarettes and spirits over