A significant increase in overseas visitors marked the 21st edition of the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Watch Fair, Asia’s largest international jewelry trade event.

The Fair attracted 35,890 visitors from 118 countries and regions, up 2,723 compared with September 2002. More than 45% of visitors came from outside Hong Kong.

This was the fair’s largest edition to date, with a total gross exhibition area of more than 59,000 square meters, an increase of 18%. The fair occupied all of the main halls of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, including Hall 7, the newly opened exhibition area. The number of exhibitors increased by 6.7% to a total of 1,852 companies.