The expo, scrapped last year due to the pandemic, will feature over 830 booths by more than 400 exhibitors this time and run between December 11 and January 10.

It will be opened daily from 11 am to 9 pm between December 11 and January 9, but from 11 am to 8 pm on its last day.

The expo’s virtual event will also be concurrently held from December 11 to January 3 for the first time.

To be eligible for the post-6pm free entrance, visitors must present their inoculation records, including paper or electronic ones stored in mobile apps, such as “LeaveHomeSafe”, “iAM Smart” or “eHealth”.

But children shorter than 1 meter, seniors aged 65 or above and disabled people can visit the expo for free at any time of the expo’s timeslots -- without the need to be double-vaxxed.

Likewise, the first 30,000 citizens registering their memberships with the expo's mobile app will be granted a free ticket each -- without having to be fully vaccinated.

For other visitors, they will have to pay HK$8 for admission. Physical tickets are available for sale on the site, whereas electronic ones can be brought from online ticket seller Cityline.

Meanwhile, a handful of infection control measures will be adopted at the expo, with most exhibitors offering the digital payment options.

Attendees are required to use the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile app before entering the premises.

But those struggling with using the app, such as elderly people, are allowed to manually register their personal information on paper.

Similarly, visitors will have their body temperature screened before visiting the expo.

Staffers should obtain a negative Covid-19 nucleic acid test result 48 hours before the expo, and a mobile Covid-19 testing station will be available to them and exhibitors.

And the no-tasting rule will be enforced at the expo.

To pamper visitors, over 400 types of discounts, including a 90 percent discount, will be rolled out by exhibitors.

"Those using the PayMe mobile app for consumption will receive HK$50 cash rebate for every HK$1,500 they spend,” organizers said.

For those who cannot visit the expo, 1,555 of them may stand the chance of winning a gift bag worth HK$255 each -- by joining one of the expo’s online events.

Eligible participants should be born in 1966, or born on May 5, or have two “5”s next to each other on their ID card number.

Other activities, such as the iconic “Miss Exhibition Pageant” competition, will also make a comeback at the expo.

The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong president Allen Shi Lop-tak said he was optimistic that the expo's turnover be restored to the pre-pandemic level, despite the upcoming e-voucher handout would be down to HK$1,000.

“The Lunar New Year is near, so a lot of people will shop at the expo for preparations, including buying dried seafood,” he said.