Strong support gives heart as players make up for lost time

Networking will be intense for Sars-struck businesses unable to attend earlier industry event

As hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of buyers gather to take part in the 22nd annual Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair, the mood is one of cautious optimism. Following last year's disappointing trade figures, this year's numbers look considerably more promising.

If Hong Kong's timepiece exports dropped 15 per cent in the first six months of last year, they were up 14 per cent in the same period this year; this despite the fact that many Hong Kong companies were not able to attend a key trade fair held in Switzerland last spring.

'Many Hong Kong companies were unable to participate in the Basel Fair earlier this year because of Sars. So this fair will be their best opportunity to catch up with international buyers,' says Anne Chick, senior exhibitions manager of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). 'We are delighted that overseas exhibitors and buyers are showing support for this event.'

Well over 700 exhibitors from 13 countries are taking part in the fair, which opens today for a five-day run at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Included are makers of complete watches and clocks, makers of parts and components, machinery manufacturers, packaging companies, companies offering trade services and publishing houses.

Besides the individual exhibitors, Hong Kong, the mainland, France, Germany, India, Italy, South Korea, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom have set up group pavilions. The fair is open to the trade only, and admission is free. The number of buyers coming is not known, but nearly 15,000 people attended the event last year.