The First Exhibition

The exhibition was organized during 4-8 February 1938. It was then called the “First Exhibition of Chinese Products”. It was organized by the Chinese Manufacturers’ Union (the older name of CMA) and organizations promoting the use of China products, including Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association, Hong Kong Young Men's Christian Association, Women’s War Disaster Relief Association and Yeung Chung Girl’s School. The first Exhibition of Chinese Products was organized in St. Paul’s College in Glenealy of Central. CMA records indicate that there were 40 participating exhibitors, but the newspapers reported there were over 80 exhibitors with 87 booths. Exhibits were limited only to Chinese goods, among which most of them are textiles, plus some electronic appliances, metal ware, cosmetics, food, rubber and lacquer products, and stationary. A Chinese opera performance was staged during the exhibition and attracted some 35 thousand visitors over a 5-day period.

The First Exhibition of Chinese Products promoted the use of Chinese products and featured the slogan “Chinese people should use Chinese goods”. The exhibition also encouraged the Hong Kong public and overseas Chinese to use and learn more about Chinese products. The event aimed at: “Promoting the development of Chinese industries, enriching the national wealth, and bringing recovery to our country’s economy”. The opening ceremony of the first expo invited Sir Robert Hormus Kotewall as a China representative to give the opening speech. He encouraged the Chinese people to establish more enterprises, open more factories and engage in investment collaborations with the British people. During the exhibition, manufacturers carried out charity sales dedicated their final-day income to purchasing public bonds, in order to “contribute to the nation” and to “fund the national cause”. After the exhibition, the manufacturers founded a joint venture company China Emporium Ltd. to boost the quality and market competitiveness of Chinese products.