Several brides and grooms-to-be have been left furious and worried that their wedding plans may go up in smoke after the apparent sudden closure of the restaurant they booked for their banquets.
Starry Terrace, under catering giant Super Star Group, is believed to have ceased operations, with labour officials reporting inquiries regarding unpaid wages and compensation over terminated contracts.
Six customers turned up at the banquet restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui on Tuesday, saying they have paid between HK$70,000 and HK$100,000 for upcoming wedding meals there.
A man surnamed Ho said he might have to cancel his wedding.
“Last month, the staff were still telling us that they were working and our wedding could still go on. But these days, they just disappeared and we can’t find out who is responsible for this,” he said.
“We are having our wedding in November, and time is too tight, so we may have to delay our wedding first and find another place, we don’t know yet.”
A woman surnamed Fung spoke of her fury at the restaurant's apparent abrupt closure.
“My wedding party is on November 29 this year, but now the restaurant is closed and there are no responses from the staff. So I’m very angry,” she said.
“We are very lucky we found another restaurant to continue the wedding party, but I know many other victims are finding it difficult to find a new restaurant.”
A woman surnamed Au told RTHK she just wants a refund.
“The most simple and direct way to solve the problem is for the restaurant to give us back our money. A few of us are having our wedding in November, which is two months away. Time is very tight,” she said.
“We can just think we’re unlucky, having to find another venue for the wedding in a short amount of time. But the deposit we paid was also earned through blood and sweat, we just want our money back.”
The Labour Department said it had received requests for assistance from staff at the restaurant, adding that any other workers affected should get in touch.
Customs officers also said they had received reports of the restaurant's closure and would look into whether there have been any violations of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.
Another restaurant belonging to the same group, Super Star Seafood Restaurant, shut down in July.