Rumors of Starry Terrace closure leave couples’ wedding plans going up in smoke

As speculation mounts over the closure of Super Star Group's wedding banquet venue, Starry Terrace, some brides and grooms-to-be are left in limbo as their big days approach.

Couples left stranded by sudden closure

A group of six customers, all of whom had paid deposits for their weddings, visited the venue today in an attempt to seek refunds but were unable to access the restaurant on the 21st floor of 8 Observatory Road.

The group claimed they had paid deposits ranging from HK$50,000 to HK$100,000, only to discover that the venue had not been operating since last month.

However, one victim noted that a staff member had previously claimed the restaurant was not closed but only operating during scheduled weddings due to poor business.

One bride-to-be, who had paid a HK$50,000 deposit for a wedding in late November, learned from the deputy manager during her last visit that the venue would not reopen.

It is revealed that the venue had signed at least 30 wedding contracts for the period from September to March next year.

Unpaid wages since July

The group managed to contact the deputy manager, Wong, who indicated he was owed wages and had since changed jobs.

Being referred to another venue, East Ocean Lafayette, which is under the same group, the victims met with a kitchen staff member, Mak, who revealed that about 30 employees’ salaries had not been paid. 

Mak added that he was owed one month's unpaid salary and holiday pay, totaling approximately HK$100,000, and all affected workers had filed complaints with the Labour Department.

Additionally, he noted that both the Tsing Yi and Shatin locations had been sold to a Taiwanese company, with employees signing new contracts under similar terms.

Emphasizing that weddings are significant life events, one victim criticized the group for failing to communicate its financial troubles while still accepting deposits.

Eight complaints received: Consumer Council

As of 5pm today, the Consumer Council reported receiving eight complaints related to the venue, amounting to around HK$607,000, with the highest complaint exceeding HK$109,000.

The council noted they are working to contact the venue's management for clarification and urge them to provide affected customers with updates on their situation.

Customs earlier also received reports of the incident and stated they will take enforcement action if any violations of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance are discovered, reminding businesses to comply with regulations to protect consumers.

Meanwhile, the Mandatory Provident Fund Authority (MPFA) confirmed that the company involved has not made the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions for the employees of Starry Terrace for July and August. 

The Labour Department has also received requests for assistance from affected employees, mainly concerning unpaid wages and severance payment.