Hundreds of local jewellery suppliers and manufacturers, unhappy that the organiser of a major trade fair is forcing them to relocate to an airport venue from next year, will protest daily this week in an attempt to avert the move.
Johnny Kwok Shu-keung, vice-president of the Hong Kong Gemstone Manufacturers' Association, said between 100 and 300 people were expected to join the protests from today until Sunday against organiser CMP Asia, which would change the format of this week's Hong Kong Jewellery and Watch Fair from next year.
Under the new arrangement, exhibitors of finished jewellery will be housed at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, while those offering unfinished products such as raw stones will be at the AsiaWorld-Expo near the airport. Firms wishing to offer both types will need booths at both venues. Previously, they were allocated space on a first-come-first-served basis.
The fair expanded to the airport venue two years ago to help accommodate the long waiting list of companies since there is no single venue with enough space. A shuttle bus service connects the two venues.
Affected exhibitors include members of the Hong Kong Gemstone Manufacturers' Association, the Tahitian Pearl Association Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Gold and Silver Ornament Workers and Merchants General Union and the Hong Kong Pearl Association.
Talks have so far yielded little progress. The organiser sought to remedy the situation by providing free booths at the Wan Chai venue for AsiaWorld-Expo exhibitors of gemstones and pearls. Also, booth rents at AsiaWorld-Expo would now be 25 per cent lower than those in Wan Chai, instead of 13 per cent, at next year's show, CMP Asia chief executive Jime Essink said.
