Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po speaks at the opening ceremony of the second "Happy Hong Kong" Gourmet Marketplace on May 6, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The second Happy Hong Kong Gourmet Marketplace began near the Amphitheatre of Sha Tin Park on Saturday.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po officiates at the opening ceremony of the second "Happy Hong Kong" Gourmet Marketplace on May 6, 2023. This photo shows (from left) Director of Home Affairs Cheung Chiu Hoi-yue;
Legislative Council member (Heung Yee Kuk), Chairman of New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Kenneth Lau Ip-keung; Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen; Mr Chan; Non-official Member of the Executive Council, LegCo member (Catering) Tommy Cheung Yu-yan; Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Clarence Leung Wang-ching; and Vice-Chairman and President of the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association Yu Xiao officiating at the ceremony. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

With about 70 booths, the two-day event features Chinese cuisines, local flavors and spectacular performances.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po officiates at the opening ceremony of the second "Happy Hong Kong" Gourmet Marketplace on May 6, 2023. This photo shows Chan (second right), accompanied by Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen (first right), and Non-official Member of the Executive Council, LegCo member (Catering) Tommy Cheung Yu-yan (third right), exchanging views with an exhibitor. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen, Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Clarence Leung Wang-ching, and Director of Home Affairs Cheung Chiu Hoi-yue officiated at the opening ceremony.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po officiates at the opening ceremony of the second "Happy Hong Kong" Gourmet Marketplace on May 6, 2023.
This photo shows Chan (first right), accompanied by Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen (third left); Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Clarence Leung Wang-ching (third right); Director of Home Affairs Cheung Chiu Hoi-yue (fourth right); Non-official Member of the Executive Council, LegCo member (Catering) Tommy Cheung Yu-yan (second left); and Legislative Council member (Heung Yee Kuk), Chairman of New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Kenneth Lau Ip-keung (second right), sampling food at the Gourmet Marketplace. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The food fair allowed people from all walks of life to come and enjoy food together, said Chan.

Pointing out that Hong Kong's economic performance in the first quarter had improved both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year, the finance chief said with the resumption of normal travel between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and the consumption vouchers dished out in March, the public spent more and there were more travelers, particularly stimulating the retail and catering sectors.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po officiates at the opening ceremony of the second "Happy Hong Kong" Gourmet Marketplace on May 6, 2023. This photo shows Chan (fourth right); Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen (first right); the Chairman of Supervisory Committee of the Federation of Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community Organizations (FHKCCC) Peter Lam Kin Ngok (third right); Non-official Member of the Executive Council, LegCo member (Catering) Tommy Cheung Yu-yan (second left); Chairman of the FHKCCC, Dr Bunny Chan Chung-bun; and other exhibitors. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The third Happy Hong Kong Gourmet Marketplace is set to take place during June 3-4 at VESSEL along the Kwun Tong Promenade. Admission will be free for members of the public.