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A.S Watson Group, the retail division of Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL) , today announced its move into the Ukraine market by acquiring a 65% percent stake in the country's No. 1 health and beauty retail chain, DC. This acquisition* is part of the AS Watson Group's continued expansion into Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltic States and Slovenia. It also creates a partnership with Asnova Holding, a leading wholesale and logistics player in Ukraine.

marks the kick off of the world's biggest quadrennial football event, the FIFA World Cup 2006? in Germany. With the World Cup expected to dominate the attention of football fans in Hong Kong, most of whom are men, local women are predicting that the upcoming frenzy of football will have a negative affect on the appearance of their husbands and boyfriends.

PARKnSHOP announced today the launch of a fundraising effort to raise money for victims in Indonesia earthquake disaster.

Watsons, Asia's leading personal care retailer marked its latest milestone today by partnering with the number one property developer in Macau, Shun Tak Group, to open the most innovative and largest flagship store in Macau, Hong Kong and China. The new flagship store is located in the heart of Macau's tourism district on Senado Square. With an investment of over HK$5 million, Watsons Macau flagship store continues the retailer's total commitment to customer satisfaction by offering an exceptional store environment, professional services, ultimate product range and shopping offers.

Superdrug, the UK's second largest beauty and health retailer owned by the AS Watson group, today (Sunday, 23 April) confirms its first three stores in Southern Ireland. The retailer announced ambitions to move into Southern Ireland as part of its new store expansion plan back in January and has already identified its first three stores in Omni Park, Talaght and Wexford. The stores are expected to open in late May.

PARKnSHOP today signed an agreement with the Environmental Protection Department to voluntarily reduce its distribution of plastic bags by 15%, which is equivalent to about 40 million bags a year, within the period from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 (as compared to the same period from 2004 to 2005).