Thousands mob new Apple store in Hong Kong

Thousands mob new Apple store in Hong Kong

Apple Inc. opened its long-awaited first store in Hong Kong on Saturday, with thousands of fans of the computer and gadget maker pouring in on the first day.

Some Apple enthusiasts camped out for nearly two days to get to the head of the line and be among the first to walk through the doors of the new store.

The store is located on two floors linked by a glass spiral staircase in Hong Kongs upscale International Financial Center Mall, in the citys central business district.

The Cupertino, California-based companys products are wildly popular in mainland China. The Hong Kong store follows the opening of a third Shanghai store on Friday as the company boosts its presence in a key market. It also has two stores in Beijing.

"Ive always wanted to participate in this kind of event, to enjoy the atmosphere. Its cool," said 17-year-old Liu Jia-rong, a high school student from Shenzhen, across the border from Hong Kong in mainland China. Liu said he had been waiting for the day that an Apple store would open near his home. He was one of the first to enter the store after joining the line at about 4 p.m. Friday.

The first person in line arrived sometime Thursday night, security guards said.

No More iSlave, reads a banner hung by protesters at the new Apple store in Hong Kongs upscale International Financial Centre Mall on Saturday. (image source: Vincent Yu/AP)

Store staff handed out free T-shirts to the first 5,000 people in line, which snaked out the mall and over a long footbridge to nearby ferry piers. Some 300 people have been hired to staff the store, one of 30 that the company plans to open in the current quarter.

"I dont want to buy anything, I actually have everything already. I just want to feel the experience," said Henry Men Youngfan, a 27-year-old doct! oral stu dent who owns an iPhone, a Macbook Pro, an iPod Shuffle and an iPad. He travelled from his home in Beijing for the fourth opening of an Apple store he has attended.

A small group of demonstrators hung a banner protesting against alleged rampant workers rights violations at the mainland factories that produce popular Apple products. Still, it seemed a small voice.

Apple executives said earlier this year that China was "very key" to Apples record earnings and revenue in the quarter that ended in June.

Revenue was up more than six times from a year earlier to $3.8 billion in the Greater China region, which also includes Hong Kong and Taiwan, Apples chief operating officer, Timothy Cook, said in July. - AP

Published Sept 25 2011