Latest news with #SiuChorkee
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Founders of Hong Kong's Ocean Empire congee chain hit with HK$7 million lawsuit
The founders of a now-closed Hong Kong congee restaurant chain are facing a HK$7 million (US$891,750) lawsuit for allegedly defaulting on rents and unlawfully terminating a tenancy agreement at one of its branches in the New Territories earlier this year. Advertisement Choi Wong-hoe and Siu Chor-kee, owners of the 33-year-old Ocean Empire Food Shop, were named as defendants in a civil claim filed in the High Court on Monday. The popular chain, which operated more than 30 branches in its heyday, abruptly shut its remaining seven outlets in May this year, citing reasons such as the worsening operating environment in the city. The two founders said they made the difficult decision after struggling to keep the business afloat despite selling their property and making personal loans. According to the writ, seen by the Post on Tuesday, an outlet of the congee restaurant chain in Tuen Mun's Paris London New York Cinema Shopping Centre had failed to pay at least 14 months of rent, air-conditioning charges and government rates. Advertisement The landlord, Chinachem Finance Company, claimed that the tenant 'unilaterally abandoned possession of the premises' without its consent when the restaurant ceased operation and returned the keys of the shop to the building's management office on May 8.
South China Morning Post
10-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
‘We tried our best': owners of failed Hong Kong congee chain break silence
The owners of a Hong Kong congee restaurant chain that closed abruptly, leaving about 100 unpaid workers in limbo, have broken their silence, saying they made the difficult decision after selling their own property and enduring high interest loans in a bid to stay afloat, while pledging to strictly follow legal procedures. Advertisement The city's Labour minister said on Saturday that the government had been in touch with the company, the 33-year-old Ocean Empire Food Shop, as he sought to reassure workers that their wages would be largely recovered and paid within about three months. The owners' comments on Friday night followed mounting accusations that they had been ' irresponsible ' by referring workers to labour authorities to claim unpaid wages from a government fund. Founders Siu Chor-kee and Choi Wong-hoe said they sought to raise funds by selling their personal property, borrowing from others, using personal assets and enduring high interest loans to pay staff wages and cover operating expenses, but faced a sluggish economy and a worsening financial environment. 'Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have used more than HK$30 million of personal funds to make up for the company's losses,' they said. Advertisement 'We have always tried our best and tried every means to save the company and its business. Unfortunately, due to the extremely severe operating environment, we have no choice but to end the business.'
