Festival of Connoisseurs opens

November 4, 2026

Premium exhibition:

Financial Secretary Paul Chan (front row, second right) attends The Festival of Connoisseurs.

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Voiceover:
Yachts. Sports cars. Jewellery. 

The Festival of Connoisseurs, currently being staged at AsiaWorld-Expo over three consecutive days, offers a feast for the eyes.

Addressing its opening ceremony, Financial Secretary Paul Chan remarked that the Government earmarked $100 million in this year's Budget to attract high-quality major international exhibitions to Hong Kong. This week’s festival is the first event to receive funding.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan:
A festival like this needs people who appreciate the exhibits, customers who want to buy them, and an environment where business can flourish. Hong Kong brings all three together.

That is our strength as a “super connector”. Capital, goods, talent and information flow freely here. Our taxes are low and the tax system is simple.

Besides, Hong Kong is a gateway to the Greater Bay Area, a market of more than 88 million people with a growing appetite for quality goods and exceptional experiences.

Voiceover:
One local yacht dealer, whose company has two yachts on display at the show, said he hopes to gain brand exposure and explore opportunities to work with other exhibitors.

Yacht company Chief Executive Officer Thomas Woo:
(Having) different industries put together in one show is the very first time (this has happened). We believe in this concept, and we believe the organiser has done a very good job.

Other than meeting potential clients, during this event we managed to meet a lot of people in different industries. We believe we have a very good connection with them  and we think (there could be) subsequent collaboration, promotion, through this networking.

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Mr Woo added that the timing for the show is perfect, given the recent launch of two-way navigation for individual yacht travel between Guangdong and Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, a representative of a Singaporean watch company commented that as Hong Kong is a major financial market with many auction houses and collectors, having an event where the industry can showcase products and exchange ideas benefits everyone.

Watch company Regional General Manager Benny Chong:
For today, we brought in 19 very unique pieces, and some watches are piece unique in the world.

There are very diverse customers. We have the locals, we have Chinese, and we have Europeans who (have flown) in, and I think everyone is here just to exchange ideas and to have interaction.

I want to congratulate the Hong Kong Government for taking the first step to have this platform for every one of us to be here today, and this is already a positive step.

Voiceover:
Some visitors travelled from Shenzhen to see the exhibition. Others said they were to explore ideas for their own businesses and to have fun.

Kellie Cheng:
We saw a lot of very international (exhibits) first of all.  I also saw some Indonesian wellness hotels, Japanese wellness hotels, and I also saw some amazing jewellery.

I want to see some art pieces, and maybe some wellness gadgets.

It is calmer than (other) very noisy exhibitions, and I really see the trend is focussing more on experiences rather than (the) product itself, so I am actually very curious to go try some experiences.

A new premium lifestyle-focused international exhibition, The Festival of Connoisseurs, opened at AsiaWorld-Expo today, with Financial Secretary Paul Chan and Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon attending the launch.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr Chan remarked that the event brings together exquisite craftsmanship and innovative ideas.

He said that Hong Kong, leveraging its role as a "super connector" and its unique advantages – such as its free flow of capital, goods, talent and information, its simple and low tax regime, and its position as the gateway to the Greater Bay Area – provides an ideal platform for international brands to showcase quality products, expand their customer base, build partnerships and explore new business opportunities.

Mr Chan highlighted that the Government earmarked $100 million in this year's Budget to attract high-quality, large-scale international exhibitions to Hong Kong, adding that this week's festival is the first exhibition to be funded under the initiative.

“The Government will continue to consolidate Hong Kong's position as an international trade centre and world-class convention and exhibition hub, support brands to expand their markets and bring richer experience to visitors,” he said.

Instead of adopting the traditional indoor-only, single-venue format, the exhibition, organised by Informa Markets, extends beyond indoor exhibition halls to outdoor venues showcasing items such as superyachts and supercars from the Chinese Mainland and around the globe. Offering new brand experiences, it has attracted a large number of premium exhibitors, buyers and visitors both from the Mainland and overseas.