Talk of the town : The convention and exhibition industry
【明報專訊】The Toys & Games Fair is the first big trade event organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in 2023.
Due to the pandemic and interruptions of cross-border trade flows between mainland China and Hong Kong, the fair came to a halt in previous years. The easing of cross-border restrictions has prompted the return of in-person fairs and made business travel between Hong Kong and other places gradually return to normal.
Over 250 toy exhibitors were from mainland China and 120 of them were from Guangdong. A merchandiser from a local toy retailing company, Mr Ho, pointed out that he could only contact the mainland toy companies via the internet due to the pandemic in previous years, thus unable to ensure the quality of toys. In fact, Hong Kong also produces a wide range of toys, such as dolls, action figures, construction sets and toy guns.
The convention and exhibition industry is important to Hong Kong as an international trade centre as it promotes Hong Kong brands across many industries. As mentioned in the latest Policy Address, a new $1.4 billion scheme will be launched to subsidise more than 200 exhibitions to be staged in Hong Kong over the next three years.
■Grammar Booster
Come to a halt
When an activity or progress stops.
E.g. The activities came to a halt to the due to the pandemic.
■Gear up
Exhibitors in the Toys & Games Fair numbered less than a thousand.
(True / False)
(Answer on next text)
■Game
Connect the dots to help Bill find his toy! (See the picture B)
■Glossary
prompt (v)……鼓勵
retailing (n)……零售業
ensure (v)……確保
subsidise (v)……津貼
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[Smarties' Power English 第376期]
