Local congee chain restaurant – Ocean Empire Food Shop – has ceased operations after more than three decades.

In a letter to employees late on Wednesday, the owner of the chain, Ocean Empire International, cited a deteriorating business environment and financial conditions for the closure.

It said it had shut down all branches and offices and that all employment contracts were terminated on the same day.

The owner pointed out that staff can turn to the Labour Department for help with their right to claim unpaid wages, payment in lieu of notice, accrued annual leave and severance payment.

Creditors will voluntarily wind up the business, the owner added.

Opened in 1992, the congee chain had more than 30 branches at one stage.

But only seven remained at the time of its closure.

Simon Wong, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, noted that the owner of the chain had tried different tactics to keep its business going.

The closure comes, he pointed out, amid fierce competition among eateries at a time when more people are heading north to eat and shop.

"During that period, even though it faced operational difficulties, it tried very hard to continue," Wong told RTHK.

"It also tried to changed strategy, so that apart from selling congee, it had also rolled out new products, such as soups, etc."

Wong added that during the Labour Day Golden Week which concluded on Monday, business at some of its restaurants did well as it had carried out a promotional effort on the popular Chinese social media app RedNote.

That had helped bring in mainland tourists to its outlets, Wong added.

However, by Thursday, the signboard at Ocean Empire's office in Fo Tan had been taken down while the doors to the manufacturing department and warehouse at its factory were locked.

Items such as rice and disposable utensils that came with a delivery note dated Thursday were seen at the site.

Several suppliers headed to the factory to collect payment in the morning.

These included a char siu supplier who revealed it had still been supplying the chain as of last month and that Ocean Empire still owes it more than HK$100,000 dating back months.
_____________________________
Last updated: 2025-05-08 HKT 14:52