Support for SMEs

To provide incentives to organisers of eligible international exhibitions as an important measure to further promote the development of the convention and exhibition (C&E) industry and generate overall economic benefits for Hong Kong.

The organiser of an eligible international exhibition may receive an incentive equivalent to 100% of the venue rental, subject to a cap of $10 million for each exhibition.  

An eligible international exhibition is defined as follows -

1. the event is organised by a private organiser and is not organised or co-organised by a government department or public body;
2. the event is held at one of the following specified venues:
   - Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC);  
   - AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE);
   - Central Harbourfront Event Space (Central Harbourfront); or
   - Great Lawn, Harbourside Lawn – East and/or Arts Pavilion of the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD);
3. the event starts on or after 1 July 2025 up to a date to be announced by the Government in due course.  The actual implementation period of the ISRE 2.0 is subject to the utilisation of funds and the Government will make an announcement in good time before the intended end date.  For the avoidance of doubt, an event which starts on or before 30 June 2025 should apply for incentive under the ISRE launched on 1 July 2023 (the relevant Application Guide is available at https://www.cedb.gov.hk/en/).  The start date of an event is the first day on which the event opens to buyers and participants, irrespective of the licensing period, move-in/out period or when an organiser submits an application;
4. the event attracts at least 1 500 non-local participants (including exhibitors and buyers).  A non-local participant is a person who does not reside in Hong Kong;
5. more than 50% or at least 1,200 square metres of the gross floor area of the event, whichever is higher, is used on each day of the event as the demonstration or display of products, materials and/or services by multiple sellers to multiple buyers with an aim to trade such products, materials and/or services whether inside or outside of the venue;
6. the event is held recurrently, normally once every year or two years;
7. the organiser of the event does not receive other government funding in respect of the venue rental of the event; and
8. the organiser and the event shall comply with all applicable laws in Hong Kong, including but not limited to the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Competition Ordinance.

Please refer to the Application Guidelines and Forms for relevant application procedures.