[Hong Kong, 25 October 2005] AS Watson, the world's largest health and beauty retailer today announced the opening of Watsons Your Personal Stores in Tallinn, Estonia which marks the Group's first entry into the country, and extends the Group's global reach to 34 markets.

Two new stores under the group's flagship health and beauty brand "Watsons Your Personal Store" were opened in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia on 20 October 2005. The two stores with respective trading area of 286 and 360 square metres are opened in premium locations in the city, including the newest modern shopping mall in Tallinn. The new stores feature Watsons' latest store concept offering a contemporary, colourful and comfortable shopping environment with a range of more than 10,000 high-quality health and beauty products.

Watsons Your Personal Store is already the largest health and beauty retail chain in Asia operating more than 1,100 stores in 10 markets - Hong Kong, Mainland China, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Korea and Turkey. The opening of Estonian stores represent first establishment of the Watsons brand in Eastern Europe.

Estonia has a population of more than 1.3million and is a member of the European Union, the world's largest economic zone.

Earlier this month, AS Watson announced the acquisition of St. Petersburg based Russian health and beauty retail chain, Spektr Group and established the group's footprints in Russia.

In 2005, AS Watson is growing organically at a rate of two stores every day, and adding one store every 4 hours to its global network including acquisitions.

Notes to Editors

AS Watson Group is the largest health & beauty retailer in the world. With a history dating back to 1828, ASW has evolved into an international retail and manufacturing corporation with operations in 34 markets worldwide.

Today, the Group operates over 6,800 retail stores running the gamut from health & beauty, luxury perfumeries & cosmetics to food, electronics, fine wine and airport retail arms. Also an established player in the beverage industry, AS Watson provides a full range of beverages from bottled water, fruit juices, soft drinks and tea products to the world's finest wine labels via its international wine wholesaler and distributor. AS Watson employs over 88,000 staff and is a member of the world renowned Hong Kong-based conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Limited, which has major interests in ports and related services, telecommunications, property and hotels, retail and manufacturing, and energy and infrastructure with businesses in 52 countries.