Hong Kong August Shows Canceled

RAPAPORT... The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has called off this year's jewelry fairs, scheduled for August, after quarantine rules made the events inaccessible to overseas participants.The HKTDC initially postponed the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show and the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show from March to August because of the coronavirus. On June 2, the municipality extended its 14-day compulsory quarantine for arrivals until September 18, as it's still working to prevent a second wave. That forced the HKTDC to cancel the events entirely."The extension of this restriction means that overseas exhibitors and buyers will have great difficulty joining the [shows] if they were to run from August 3 to 6 as scheduled," the council said Thursday in an announcement on its website. "In consultation with industry representatives, it has been decided that the next jewelry shows will be held in March 2021."The 2021 Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show, for loose-stone exhibitors, will take place from March 1 to 5 at AsiaWorld-Expo. The Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, which focuses on finished jewelry, will run from March 3 to 7 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The council is also consulting with industry members about other promotional options to help companies do business in the current conditions, it said.Meanwhile, Informa hasn't confirmed whether its Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong show will go ahead as planned from September 13 to 19. On June 4, the company said it would monitor the situation and work on "potential alternatives that will enable us to deliver the B2B [business-to-business] experience that you expect and deserve in a safe environment before the end of the year."The pandemic has forced the cancellation of most trade shows this year, with JCK Las Vegas and Baselworld also falling victim.Image: The March 2019 show. (HKTDC)