Waiters bearing Cosmopolitans greeted guests arriving at Cartier's 100th anniversary celebration of its Santos de Cartier watch at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts' Lyric Theatre in Wan Chai. Guests were surprised by three British magicians dressed as waiters who pulled out magic tricks instead of drinks.
After they'd recovered from the surprise waiters, Hong Kong's movers and shakers - including James and Jane Louey, Monica Chen, Rebecca Tong, Cindy Yeung, Doreen Wan, Ming Ho and Lumen Kinoshita - were dazzled by Balinese bartender Yos Malelak, a world champion at his craft of pouring drinks with flair.
Almost as popular as the watches were the food stations. The chocolate fountain, the alcoholic ice-cream station and the sweet and savoury crepe stand had throngs of party people crowding around.
The theme of the night was Brazil, naturally, because the legendary Santos de Cartier - the first watch to be mounted on leather and worn on the wrist - was created by Louis Cartier for Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont. So, guests downed Brazilian caipiroskas and mini Brazilian kebabs after the video show.
With the food and drinks came the entertainment. French DJ Emmanuel S. took to the decks, while six Hong Kong dancers dressed as stewardesses stole the show. Guests who looked up were amazed by two Australian aerialists performing acrobatics amid airplanes suspended from the ceiling.
Among the party-goers were Allan and Charmaine Zeman, Mabel Au-Yeung, hairdresser Kim Robinson, Flora Cheong-leen, with husband Russell Wong Sun-tak, Bonnie Gokson, Hubert and Pascale Wang, Johanna Ho, Deputy French Consul-General Pauline Carmona, Michelle Cheng and Pansy Ho Chiu-king.
