The HKCEC will seldom have smelled or looked better when the seventh Cosmoprof Asia is staged in November. The event is described by its organisers as "the ultimate beauty event in the Asia Pacific region, and a necessary meeting point for the global beauty industry".

For the first time, Cosmoprof Asia 2002 will be the privileged setting to discover the spa concept in all its aspects and facets. The organisers have also announced a new event, the Natural Health Fair, which will be held alongside and is described as Asia's international trade event for the global natural health trade. Products on show will include natural and organic food and beverages, ingredients, diets, natural health medicines, health-related therapies, and all the products and services related to healthy living.

In announcing the launch of the new fair, Michael Duck, Director of Cosmoprof Asia and Senior Vice President of CMP Asia said, "Traditional medicines, herbal based medicines and organic food have been part of Asian culture for centuries. Their importance to Asians today is as strong as ever and now they have been joined by the fast-growing demand for a healthier lifestyle and diet by increasingly affluent consumers worldwide."

Cosmoprof Asia is a joint venture among CMP Asia Ltd, BolognaFiere and Unipro.

Hong Kong is one of the world's best cities for eating out. Dining is one of the HKSAR's greatest passions. It is entirely appropriate then that Restaurant Events from the UK should be launching its Restaurant & Bar Hong Kong fair at the HKCEC this October.

The show is described as the first to focus exclusively on Asia's restaurant and bar industry. Restaurant & Bar Hong Kong, the organiser says, will serve up a programme of demonstrations, workshops, seminars and tastings -- all run by the industry's leading experts and tailored to operators' most pressing needs and interests.

Together they're guaranteed to generate non-stop food for thought for every visitor, and a wealth of promotional opportunities for suppliers.

Why did the organiser choose Hong Kong? It says Hong Kong is the undisputed gourmet capital of the Asia Pacific and one of the world's top three dining centres. It has more restaurants per person than anywhere else in the world -- 10,000 of them, generating over US$7 billion of revenue a year plus a vibrant bar scene.

Over 200 top suppliers from all areas of the trade around the world will exhibit: fine food, drinks, design, furniture, technology and services.

One of the world's most important telecom events returns to the HKCEC in December when ITU Telecom Asia will be staged in the HKSAR for the second time. The event will be hosted by the Government of the People's Republic of China.

Cliff Wallace, HKCEC's Managing Director commented when the agreement was signed, "Having held ITU Telecom Asia 2000, we are genuinely pleased with this extraordinary honour and accomplishment in being awarded the event again. To host such a premier international event twice in two years is a credit to the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong and the HKCEC. The HKCEC is committed to do our part in making this significant world telecommunications event another great success."

ITU Telecom Asia 2000 (4 - 9 December 2000), which was the ITU's biggest ever regional ITU Telecom event to date. Mr Yoshio Utsumi, ITU's Secretary-General, complimented HKCEC after the event, "It is fortunate that we have ITU Telecom Asia 2000 hosted in a venue like the HKCEC. We have been extremely well looked after by HKCEC's management and operational staff. The feedback from both overseas and local participants has been very positive."