Social unrest in HK forces cancellation of Seafood Asia Expo

At least 10 Canadian companies and associations had booked exhibition space at event, which was scheduled to take place in Hong Kong next month

By SeaWestNews

Continued social unrest in Hong Kong has forced the cancellation of the Seafood Expo Asia, one of the world’s biggest gatherings of premium seafood buyers and sellers.

At least 10 Canadian companies and associations had booked exhibition space at the event, which was scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from 3 to 5 September, 2019.

Diversified Communications, which operates Seafood Expo Asia, said the move was made in response to ongoing social unrest in Hong Kong and careful analysis of the current situation, pending protests, and the impacts on the event.

Diversified Group Vice President Liz Plizga told Seafoodsource.com : “This decision was exceptionally difficult and one that we did not take lightly. There was enough information to indicate that these events would continue with potential impacts on travel and logistics. Our goal is to deliver a valuable and safe environment that’s conducive to business. At the end of the day, we made the final decision with our customers’ best interest in mind.”

Diversified Communications, which also owns and operates SeafoodSource, said the show annually features more than 200 exhibiting companies from more than 30 countries, and visitors from more than 68 countries.

It is designed to facilitate the trading of seafood in the Asia-Pacific region, “one of the biggest and fastest-growing seafood markets in the world,” according to Diversified.

Political protests have been taking place in Hong Kong since March 2019 over a now-suspended Bill that would allow criminal suspects in Hong Kong to be extradited to mainland China for trial. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam had later declared the Bill as “dead”, but stopped short of withdrawing it.

The pro-democracy protests have been echoed by similar demonstrations across the world, including Vancouver and Toronto.