Wine and Dine expected to lure 150,000 people
The Wine and Dine Festival will make its comeback in Hong Kong from October 23 to 27 at the Central Harbourfront with over 300 booths featuring food and drink from 35 countries and regions, organisers said on Thursday.  The Hong Kong Tourism Board said the event will span five days instead of four as in previous years and will also open until 11pm each night.  Admission tickets start at HK$20 and three types of tasting passes will be available for sale from Friday.  Those who purchase tasting passes on or before October 15 will receive a HK$20 discount.  Raymond Chan, a general manager with the board, said the fair expected to attract 150,000 people, with 10 percent from outside Hong Kong.  “And we have been working with different travel trade partners for an earlier promotion for the Wine and Dine this year. Basically a lot of short-haul markets, especially in mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, even Southeast Asia, [our overseas offices] have started to promote Wine and Dine this year pretty early,” he said.  “So we are actually expecting more visitors this year and at the same time there will be cruises [docking in Hong Kong] at the end of [October] and we are working with them to invite their cruise passengers to come to enjoy the Wine and Dine Festival this year.” Chan also reminded people to bring their own cups or they would need to buy one on site, saying no plastic cups would be provided following the government’s plastics ban.  Meanwhile, the board also announced that the “Taste Around Town” programme would return in November, when over 300 eateries in the city will offer discounts and exclusive menus featuring Hong Kong flavours during the month-long festival.