The Government announced today that the Convention & Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme under the Anti-epidemic Fund will be further extended for six months to June 30, 2023.

It said it will also launch a new $1.4 billion three-year scheme on July 1 next year to subsidise recurrent exhibitions to be staged in Hong Kong. Details will be announced later.

With the lifting of the compulsory quarantine requirement imposed on inbound travellers from September 26, the Government explained that it hopes that further extending the scheme will help raise organisers’ confidence in holding convention and exhibition activities, provide impetus to the industry, as well as consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international convention and exhibition hub.

In 2020, the Government launched the Convention & Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme with a total commitment of $1.07 billion to render much-needed support to the trade. As of September 30 this year, it has subsidised 175 exhibitions, involving a total subsidy of about $467 million.

In the fourth quarter of 2021, about $41 million was allocated to provide one-off immediate relief to private organisers of 73 exhibitions to help them cope with the impact of the prolonged postponement or cancellation of exhibitions under the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government added.