Woman pays HK$80,000 after date flees Mandarin Oriental dinner in suspected scam

A 31-year-old woman reported to police that she was left with a HK$80,000 restaurant bill after her date fled during a meal at Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong's Chinese restaurant on Thursday night. The incident occurred after the woman met the approximately 26-year-old man through Telegram and arranged their first in-person meeting at the Central establishment.

Police confirmed receiving the report around 10:00pm indicating the man had excused himself during dinner and failed to return to the table at the No. 5 Connaught Road location. The woman subsequently paid the substantial bill herself before filing a fraud complaint with authorities. 

The case has been officially classified as fraud under police reporting procedures. No arrests have been made as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the expensive meal and sudden departure.