The annual Hong Kong Food Expo, a feast for local residents and visitors, will be staged at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center from August 12 to 16.

Up to 270 food manufacturers and suppliers will join the exhibition. Among them, about 100 companies are from the Chinese mainland, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Russia and Taiwan.

The international delicacies to be shown include health and organic food, bakery products, sauces and seasonings, beverages, biscuits, snacks and confectionery, canned, frozen and convenience food, according to the organizer, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC).
 
At the Chinese mainland Pavilion, 50 exhibitors will feature products from Zhejiang, Yunnan, Chongqing, Guangdong, Shanghai, Jiangxi and Shandong.

Another special zone, Korean Pavilion, will display Korean specialty products including kimchee, citron tea, aloe tea, ginseng products, Korean sauces, beer and fresh fruits.

Newly added Indonesian and Filipino Pavilions will show instant noodles, chili sauce, processed fruits, jam, cookies and canned food.

Fabulous stage programs and games, including cooking demonstration by celebrities, famous chefs and winners of the 6th Hong Kong Secondary School Student Cooking Competition, health talks, will be organized to add more fun and excitement to visitors.

In view of the rising popularity of Chinese medicine and health products, the TDC joined hands with the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association Ltd. (MCMIA) to organize the International Conference and Exhibition of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products, running concurrently with the Food Expo.

The exhibition has attracted more than 160 exhibitors from Hong Kong, Australia the Chinese mainland, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and the United States. They will showcase an extensive range of products including Chinese medicine and health supplements. Some of them will introduce the latest results of medical research and technology development.

This year, the TDC has added a new "trade hall" at the exhibition to help exhibitors meet potential partners who are interested in distributing their products and conduct business discussions with them.

(Xinhua News Agency July 30, 2004)