The second “Hong Kong Shopping Festival” launch ceremony was held on Thursday, with over 5,000 businesses from 160 brands offering 300 freebies and discounts totaling HK$12 billion for the citizens.

Running from July 1 to August 31 – under the theme “Enjoy Hong Kong Privileges ? Courtesy” – the Festival aims to provide good deals and courteous services to residents and tourists and support Hong Kong in living up the reputation as a hospitable city and “Experiential Shopping Paradise”. 

Organized by the Hong Kong Retail Management Association (HKRMA), the shopping fest this year has ten major sectors participating, including the retail, catering, tourism, convention and exhibition, and hotel industries, etc.

Over 110 gifts will be offered, three times the number from last year. Among them, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will give away 4,000 admission tickets to several expos held in August. Additionally, McDonald’s will distribute 10,000 cups of free iced drinks on July 3.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said in his speech that there are more participating merchants than last year, and all will be providing gifts and coupons with no consumption threshold. 

Chan believed combining high-quality products and services would boost consumer sentiment in the public.

Annie Tse Yau On-yee, chair of HKRMA, said the retail industry has faced various new challenges, and the business ecology of many sectors has undergone great changes.

She believes that in the face of the new situation, they must be more flexible, gather strength from all walks of life, combine with government support, and enhance competitiveness through multi-party cooperation, so that they can win the favor of customers and overcome future obstacles.

In addition to exploring Hong Kong, international tourists can take a short ferry ride to the vibrant city of Macao. For a limited time until July 31, the Macao Government Tourism Office is offering complimentary one-way tickets for direct ferry services from Hong Kong to Macao. Not to mention a seamless and complimentary journey from Hong Kong International Airport to the Macao Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Kindly note that complimentary bus tickets are limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. For more details, visit https://www.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/events/whatson/10293/.