Sheung Wan exit brings bad taste for diners and omen for sector

The 20-year-old main outlet of Fung Shing Restaurant Group in Sheung Wan closed its doors yesterday, marking yet another hit for Chinese restaurant chains at a time when some had to quit the business amid the pandemic's fifth wave.

However, three of Fung Shing's branches in Causeway Bay, Kowloon Bay and Tsuen Wan will remain open.

A banner hung up next to the entrance of the Sheung Wan restaurant expressed gratitude for diners' support over the past 20 years and bid farewell.

A regular diner recalled eating dim sum at the Sheung Wan eatery every weekend over the past few years.

She noted that she had visited the restaurant twice over the past two days, adding that her favorite dishes are the stir-fried rice noodles with black bean garlic sauce and assorted dim sum.

Another diner also said it was a pity the restaurant had to be closed down as it was well known in the neighborhood.

Catering-sector veteran Yeung Wai-sing said the fifth wave has dealt a "heavy blow" to Chinese eateries, particularly small- or medium-sized Chinese restaurant chains.

"Even without social-distancing measures, the number of diners having dim sum in the morning had decreased by nearly two thirds," he said, adding that the 6pm dining-in ban also meant there were few customers at night.

Therefore, Yeung said, some Chinese restaurants have no other choice but to temporarily cease operation and put their staff on no-pay leave to minimize losses.

"What's worse is the situation was getting better in November and early December, so we adjusted salaries to get more people working," he said. "However, the fifth wave put a stop to the peak season and some [owners] had to put up with the increased salaries."

Yeung estimated that on top of those that have already shut down, about 10 percent more of the currently 16,000 restaurants and bars in Hong Kong will close in the next two months.

Since the middle of this month, several Chinese restaurant chains have ceased operation until late February or announced that they will only reopen when the pandemic stabilizes.

This includes Star Seafood Restaurant Group, which said only its Sham Shui Po and Shau Kei Wan branches will remain open while the remaining 12 will close until further notice.

Choi Fook Wedding Banquet Group also announced on February 12 that all 12 of its restaurants will remain closed until next Monday.