A 36-year-old Hong Kong seafood restaurant chain has abruptly shut down its last remaining branch, leaving about 50 employees in limbo as they seek to recover their unpaid wages.
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A notice announcing the closure of Super Star Seafood Restaurant was posted at its Moko shopping centre branch in Mong Kok on Wednesday.
“In recent years, the catering industry in Hong Kong has been facing structural challenges,” it said. “The local consumer market has continued to be weak and there has been a fundamental change in tourists’ consumption patterns. The business of our company has inevitably been affected.”
According to the notice, the company tried to negotiate relief measures, such as rent adjustments or suspensions, with the landlords, but failed to reach an agreement.
“Due to the continued deterioration of the business environment and after careful evaluation, the company, with a heavy heart, announces that it will cease operations at the Moko branch from July 2,” it added.
The restaurant chain, founded in 1989, used to have multiple branches across Hong Kong, including in Tsuen Wan, Wan Chai, Hung Hom and Tseung Kwan O. But all had been closed in the run-up to its final demise.
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Chiu Kwun-chung, head of the Eating Establishment Employees General Union’s labour rights committee, said about 50 restaurant workers had sought help to recover their unpaid wages, severance payments, pay for untaken leave and wages in lieu of notice, which amounted to an estimated total of more than HK$5 million (US$636,940).
He said that some employees had worked there for a long time, with severance payments reaching HK$200,000 to HK$300,000.