Hong Kong restaurant chain Kam Kee shuts seven of its stores

Hong Kong restaurant chain Kam Kee Cafe has closed seven of its shops in the New Territories, with the owner saying locals now prefer crossing the border for cheaper shopping.

Responding to media inquiries, Kam Kee Catering Group chairman Rayman Chui Man-wai said seven of its Kam Kee Cafes have shuttered in 2024 - which he described as a desperate move in the struggle for survival.

He said the sales for shops located in the New Territories were 20 to 30 percent less than those in other districts, and that the group will turn their focus to the Yau Tsim Mong and West Kowloon districts following their restructuring.

Chui attributed the closure to the economic slowdown, which sent flocks of residents to mainland China for cheaper food and entertainment.

He also noted that mainlanders’ spending power was not as strong as before during the pre-pandemic period.