HONG KONG – The China International Animation Copyright Fair will return to Dongguan on Thursday, bringing together over 2,200 global animation IPs.

Themed "Integration·Boundless", the 16th edition of the fair will feature five designated exhibition zones, alongside dedicated spaces such as an art toy supermarket and public interactive experience areas.

The five-day event, to be held at the China Trendy Toy Capital Manbo Center, expects to attract 500 domestic and international enterprises and institutions.

Ninety-eight participating enterprises from over 20 countries and regions, including the United States, France and Italy, will showcase international IPs. For the first time, a strategic partnership will be established with the International Animated Film Association to build a platform for Sino-foreign animation art exchange.

Food paradise

The 36th Food Expo will take place from Aug 13 to 17 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the expo – an annual highlight for foodies – will be divided into various zones, including a Public Hall and a Gourmet Zone dedicated to high-quality, refined ingredients.

A selection of food and beverage products from around the world will be brought to the expo. Featured pavilions will provide stages for exhibitors from Indonesia, Japan’s Aomori prefecture, and several Chinese mainland regions, such as Hubei and Sichuan provinces, Chongqing municipality and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Events taking place concurrently include the Home Delights Expo, Beauty and Wellness Expo, and Hong Kong International Tea Fair.

Retail sales health

Hong Kong’s Census and Statistics Department will release June retail sales figures on Tuesday.

May’s retail sales provisionally rose 7.9 percent year-on-year to HK$33.8 billion, with figures revealing divergent sector performance. Jewelry, watches and valuable gifts led gains with a 25.8 percent year-on-year rise, while fuel and drugs declined 12.2 percent and 9.5 percent year-on-year, respectively.

Sustained economic expansion, rising local incomes and growth in inbound visitors would underpin retail activity, creating supportive conditions for the sector ahead, an official said last month.