Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po (2nd right) attends the launching of the Hong Kong Shopping Festival 2023 organized by the Hong Kong Retail Management Association in Central on June 29, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

The Hong Kong Retail Management Association will launch a two-month shopping festival on Saturday, offering more than HK$1.5 billion ($191.5 million) in shopping coupons and freebies to the public and visitors in partnership with 150 brands and 6,000 retail outlets.

Participants could collect up to 230 shopping offers, including discounts and “buy one, get one free” offers, on digital wallet Alipay HK, news website HK01, and lifestyle app AR Lens, snapping up luxuries, cosmetics, household items, digital gadgets, and food and beverages.

Delivering his speech at the festival’s opening ceremony, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the shopping festival could drive the city’s consumption atmosphere

Also, over 1.3 million free gifts, such as 100,000 cups of coffee, 10,000 McDonald's Big Mac sandwiches, and over 1,000 supermarket cash coupons, will be available on Alipay HK and AR Lens.

READ MORE: E-voucher: Shopping sprees send good signs for HK economy

Among other highlights during the shopping festival will be six “gimmicky offers”. The public could win prizes by participating in shopping games held by merchants. Sogo, ParknShop, Starbucks, McDonald’s, CSL and Mannings will provide gimmicky offers.

It is expected that consumers will be impressed by Hong Kong’s image as a shopping paradise and its hospitality through the fun-filled shopping experience, the association said.

Delivering his speech at the festival’s opening ceremony, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the shopping festival could drive the city’s consumption atmosphere, and it is expected that the number of tourists and visitors will continue to increase in the second half of the year, bringing development opportunities to retail and catering businesses.

Chan said Hong Kong recorded nearly 2.9 million visitors in April and May, more than half the number before the COVID-19 outbreak.

READ MORE: HK business conditions show strong improvement

The value of retail sales and the performance of the catering industry have returned to nearly 90 percent of their pre-pandemic levels.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po (3rd right) attends the launching of the Hong Kong Shopping Festival 2023 organized by the Hong Kong Retail Management Association in Central on June 29, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

He also pointed out that the retail sector should be able to enhance its competitiveness and service standards to capitalize on the city’s recovery as there have been changes in the consumption patterns of both tourists and residents, whose expectations for shopping are rising.

Annie Yau Tse, chairman of the Hong Kong Retail Management Association, said the Hong Kong Shopping Festival will tie in with the Hello Hong Kong and Happy Hong Kong campaigns organized by the special administrative region government to consolidate the momentum of Hong Kong’s economic recovery.