Catering industry leader faces off with restaurant manager over poor service

Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades president Simon Wong Ka-wo grumbled after encountering disrespectful treatment while dining with friends at a restaurant in Central. 

This came after Hongkongers tended to travel north on holidays, leading to the drop in businesses of many local restaurants. 

Speaking in a radio program on Wednesday, Wong said he confronted the manager for about 10 minutes and criticized the restaurant's services.

Wong noted that though there were few patrons that evening, the service was slow and it took 15 minutes for each dish to be served. 

"A chicken dish went missing for 45 minutes before the waiter said the dish was mistakenly served to another table," Wong said.

After waiting for another 10 minutes without a response, Wong went to the counter and stated that he wanted to cancel the order.

Later, a manager approached Wong with his bill without being called, prompting Wong to air his grievances and lecture the manager for about 10 minutes.

He said the catering industry in the city is highly competitive, and with Hong Kong people traveling north for consumption, such an attitude is unacceptable. 

Wong added that a senior manager later called and apologized, as well as offering him a free meal, though he rejected the invitation.