AA awards licences for airside jewellery and watches shops

(HONG KONG, 4 September 1997) -- The Airport Authority (AA) has today awarded three airside licences -- one of them for the world's first airport Chinese gold jewellery shop and the other two for the operation of fine jewellery and watches shops -- at Hong Kong SkyMart, the world-class shopping centre in the passenger terminal at the new airport at Chek Lap Kok.

Les Must de Cartier (Far East) Limited has been awarded one of two fine jewellery and watches licences, to operate one Cartier shop for a period of 49 months. The other licence went to Royal Copenhagen (Hong Kong) Limited. This 48-month licence allows the company to operate one Georg Jensen boutique selling fine jewellery and watches. The Chinese gold jewellery licence has been awarded to Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Company Limited for a period of 48 months to operate a Chinese gold jewellery shop at Hong Kong SkyMart. All these three shops will be located on the Departures Boarding Level inside the restricted area of the passenger terminal.

Les Must de Cartier (Far East) Limited is one of the most prestigious luxury jewellery and watches brands in the world, with 150 years of brand history. Cartier has extensive airport boutique experience of operating airport boutiques in London, Geneva, Rome and Milan with 173 outlets worldwide and seven boutiques in Hong Kong.

Georg Jensen, founded in 1904 in Copenhagen, has earned its reputation for excellent craftsmanship, quality and design worldwide. It now has 56 shops internationally and three outlets in Hong Kong. It has also gained sound airport retail experience.

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery has 70 years' experience in the Chinese gold jewellery business. With 20 outlets in Hong Kong and Macau, the company owns a very distinctive brand reputation for its fine workmanship in providing quality 24K gold jewellery and its excellent customer services.

"Chow Tai Fook Jewellery will be the world's first airport Chinese gold jewellery shop," said AA Finance and Commercial Director Mr Raymond Lai. "The selection of these prestigious jewellery shops is just another example of fulfilling the East-meets-West theme of Hong Kong SkyMart.

"We are delighted to see these strong additions to our current list of licensees," AA General Manager - Retail Mr Fred Chiu said. "Cartier, Georg Jensen and Chow Tai Fook are all very well-known brands and we are very pleased to welcome them on board as our business partners."

Ref. PR-302