Hong Kong proposes grade 2 heritage status for Kennedy Town selfie spot sea wall
A sea wall at a popular selfie spot along Kennedy Town’s waterfront could soon gain grade 2 status after authorities proposed listing it as a historic structure, though experts say creative storytelling will be key to bringing the site’s heritage to life. According to a document from the Antiquities and Monuments Office, the Historic Buildings Assessment Panel recommended that the New Praya sea…
Hong Kong is set to host its first high-end expo featuring yachts, supercars, fine jewellery, and luxury travel in November 2026, as part of initiatives to draw affluent clientele and establish the city as a premier global conference and event hub. The inaugural Festival of Connoisseurs, funded with HK$100 million (US$12.8 million) from Hong Kong's 2026-27 budget, will be organized by Informa Markets at AsiaWorld-Expo, situated near Hong Kong International Airport.
The exhibition, running from November 4 to 6, will extend across various locations in Hong Kong, utilizing an innovative "city-as-your-showroom" concept. A source revealed that this event marks the beginning of a series of MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) projects aimed at elevating Hong Kong's MICE sector offerings and boosting high-end tourism.
The government's allocation of funds is part of broader efforts to solidify Hong Kong's status as a leading MICE destination. Informa, a global leader in commercial trade exhibition organization, will provide further details about the event on Thursday. The festival will showcase an array of high-end products and experiences, including luxury automobiles, yachts, haute jewellery, premium travel, fine arts, upscale properties, private aircraft, gourmet dining, rare spirits, and elite wellness services.
Informa and the Hong Kong Tourism Board aim to establish the Festival of Connoisseurs as an annual flagship event through 2028, with plans to gradually increase the exhibition's scale and international appeal.
Next year's festival is scheduled for the summer, with expectations of attracting high-profile international events such as the Monaco Yacht Show, Palm Beach International Boat Show, Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Jewellery Arabia, and the Top Marques Monaco supercar show. The Tourism Board has previously highlighted how major international conventions have bolstered business travel in July, contributing to a 3 per cent year-on-year increase in visitor arrivals to approximately 4.5 million in that month.
Government data indicated that Hong Kong welcomed 2.51 million MICE visitors in 2025, representing a 7 per cent year-on-year rise, with nearly 57 per cent staying overnight and generating HK$10.7 billion in overall spending.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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