Apple to launch second store in Hong Kong at Festival Walk mall
Apple will open its second branded store in Hong Kong at Festival Walk on Saturday, more than a year after the technology giant launched its flagship local shop at the IFC mall in Central.
The store in Kowloon Tong will be the company's seventh retail location in China, where it had previously established two stores in Beijing and three in Shanghai.
The latest opening will raise Apple's total retail operations to almost 390 stores in 13 countries, which would further widen its distribution for the recently released iPhone 5.
Apple yesterday posted a few details about the "grand opening" at the Festival Walk mall on the Apple Hong Kong website. Like the IFC Mall location, the new Apple Store will open from 10am until 10pm daily.
Apple's spokeswoman in Beijing confirmed the formal launch, but declined to provide more information about the store.
About 500 people queued overnight for the opening of the IFC Mall Apple Store a year ago, although there were also protests by labour rights groups, concerned about the labour practices of Apple's suppliers on the mainland.
While there have been rumours since last year that Kowloon Tong was a target location, Apple was expected to open its second store in Causeway Bay. It was reported that Apple planned to open a 20,000 sq ft store at Hysan Place, owned by Hysan Development.
Sales of the new iPhone 5 surpassed five million, the company said yesterday, but the figure disappointed analysts who said it was below their expectations. Apple shares were down by 1.58 per cent in mid-day trading.
China - comprising the mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau - is the company's second-largest market after the United States.
