The opening ceremony of the 35th HKPE was held right after the flag-raising ceremony. A number of distinguished guests were invited to attend the ceremony. They included Vice-Chairman of the National Council of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (NCCPPCC) Dr Henry Fok Ying Tung, HKSAR Chief Executive the Hon Mr Tung Chee Hwa, Director of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government Mr Jiang En Zhu, Commissioner of the Chinese Commissioner's Office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in HKSAR Mr Ma Yu Zhen, HKSAR Secretary for Justice the Hon Ms Elsie Leung, Chairperson of the Legislative Council the Honourable Mrs Rita Fan, Secretary for Commerce and Industry Mr Chau Tak Hay, Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting Mrs Carrie Yau and Chairman of the Board of Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd. Dr Li Ka Shing. Accompanied by CMA Honorary President Mr Chow Chung Kai, Dr Wong Po Yan, Mr Ngai Shiu Kit; President Mr Chan Wing Kee; and Vice-President and Convenor of the 35th Hong Kong Products Expo Executive Committee Dr Jose Yu, these Guests of Honour officiated the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Apart from CMA Honorary Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Executive Committee members, General Committee members and Sub-committee members, guests attending the ceremony also included the HKSAR government's principal officials, senior officials of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government, consular corps and prominent figures from industrial and trade sectors.

During the exhibition period, Financial Secretary for the HKSAR Government Mr Donald Tsang and Mrs Tsang, Secretary for Financial Services Mr Stephen Ip, and Secretary for Education and Manpower Mrs Fanny Law visited the HKPE.