More to savour on? Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival expands to 5 days, ditches plastic cups

Gourmands in Hong Kong will be treated to a longer and greener Wine and Dine Festival this year, with the event stretching to five days from four and a ban on plastic cups in place.

Spearheaded by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the festival will be held from October 23 to 27 at the Central Harbourfront, featuring more than 300 booths with food and drinks from dozens of countries and regions.

“Those who attended the festival last year would know the atmosphere was excellent, and we had queries on whether the festival could be longer,” Raymond Chan Chan-man, a general manager with the board, said on Thursday.

“By lengthening the festival for a day to five and closing at 11pm, we hope that Hongkongers and tourists can stay a bit longer at the event,” he said, without commenting on whether the extension was to attract locals to stay in the city amid a wave of northbound consumption across the border.

One of the four days last year finished at 8.30pm while the rest concluded at 11pm.