The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has announced that eight trade fairs originally scheduled to run during the April 6-30 time period have been postponed, among them the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, which had been slated for April 27-30. The postponement comes amid the outbreak of novel coronavirus Covid-19.

The HKTDC issued the announcement in consultation with representatives of the various industries affected by the delay. The HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair, Spring Edition; the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair, Spring Edition; the HKTDC International ICT Expo; the HKTDC Hong Kong Houseware Fair; HKTDC Hong Kong International Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair; the HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week and the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair, along with the HKTDC Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, will be held concurrently on July 25-28 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Details will be available soon.

Other events managed by the HKDTC scheduled for February or March, including the HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewelry Show and the HKTDC Hong Kong International Film and TV Market, have either been postponed to dates in May or August, are awaiting rescheduling or have been cancelled. The HKTDC reports that it continues to monitor the situation and communicate closely with Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP), and the organization will take appropriate measures as new information becomes available or the CHP issues new instructions.

In a statement on the delays, the HKTDC notes, “We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to exhibitors, pavilion organizers, industry associations and buyers from around the world who have been supportive to HKTDC fairs all along. We will make every effort to provide [the] industry with the same safe and effective trading platform in July and continue helping companies capture business opportunities through multiple channels.”