The suggestion that a new Hong Kong wine fair, to be launched next August in the same exhibition space as Vinexpo Hong Kong, might be a rival, was today brushed aside by Vinexpo chief executive Robert Beynat.

The new exhibition, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, was announced last February as the 'Hong Kong International Wine Expo', but has since changed the last word to 'Fair'.

The fair, which will be annual, has a potential 5,000 square metres of space this year, and prices for the smallest individual stand are US$4,230 compared to Vinexpo HK's price of US$4,715.

Interest in the fair has already come from Australia, Germany, New Zealand Italy and the Chinese mainland.

"Because the Hong Kong government wants the best relations with Vinexpo, [the organisers] changed the name of the August 2008 exhibition," Beynat told just-drinks today (20 May), with a spokesperson adding the fair was not seen as competition.