Hong Xing Chinese Restaurant closes final MOKO Mong Kok store due to high rent

Final Hong Xing Chinese Restaurant location in Mong Kok closes

Hong Xing Chinese Restaurant, also operating as Hong Xing Seafood Restaurant, permanently closed its last remaining branch at MOKO New Century Plaza in Mong Kok today (July 2). The closure marks the end of the restaurant group’s operations following years of financial strain due to high rent and declining foot traffic.

According to labor unions, the closure came without advance notice to staff. Some workers reportedly received notifications around 11 p.m. the night before. The Hong Kong Federation of Labour and the Federation of Catering Industry Unions stated they are assisting about 20 employees who are owed approximately one and a half months of wages, including unpaid annual leave and notice pay.


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A total of around 50 workers are believed to be impacted by the closure. Roughly 15 are expected to qualify for severance pay based on tenure. The union is currently verifying if Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions were also withheld.

High rent and operating costs cited by Hong Xing Chinese Restaurant

In its official closure notice, Hong Xing Chinese Restaurant stated that the local catering industry has faced “structural challenges” in recent years. Despite efforts to cut costs and boost revenue, the business could not overcome ongoing high rents and weakening consumer spending.

The company noted that it had “proactively negotiated with individual property owners many times” in hopes of securing rent adjustments or payment deferrals. However, the efforts did not lead to an agreement. The restaurant emphasized that the decision to close its Mong Kok branch was made “after careful evaluation” and was ultimately “a helpless move.”

Changes in tourist consumption habits and ongoing economic softness also contributed to Hong Xing Chinese Restaurant’s operational difficulties.

Legal disputes reveal pattern of rent arrears

Public records show that Sun Hung Kai Properties, landlord of the MOKO branch, filed multiple lawsuits against Hong Xing Chinese Restaurant to recover rent in recent years. Since January 2024, the company has been sued almost monthly, with rent claims ranging from HK$760,000 to HK$840,000. In February 2025, the landlord sought two months of rent totaling HK$1.68 million.

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Despite continued rent disputes, Hong Xing denied closure rumors in May 2025. A statement posted by the company on social media at that time rejected claims of voluntary liquidation and stated that operations were continuing as usual. The group also threatened legal action against individuals spreading “unfavorable news.”

The restaurant appeared to be open during a media visit on the day of that statement. However, the MOKO location was the last remaining Hong Xing Chinese Restaurant branch following the closure of its Kwun Tong store in March 2024.

Hong Xing Seafood Restaurant ends after regional expansion and decline

At its peak, Hong Xing Chinese Restaurant operated 16 branches across Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shunde, and even Japan. The brand, well known for Cantonese seafood and banquet dining, has steadily reduced its footprint in recent years.

The business is operated by Golden Crown Globe Investment Limited. Director Deng Yaobang is the son of the late Hong Kong “Shop King” Deng Chengbo, who remains listed as a major shareholder. Other stakeholders include Zhou Quanzhong, a former executive chef of the Superstar Group, and Buji.

Reports of company closures in 2021 and 2022 were denied at the time, but branch reductions continued. With the closure of the MOKO Mong Kok location, the brand has now fully exited the Hong Kong dining scene.

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Union representatives and affected employees visited the Labour Department in Mong Kok this morning to register complaints and inquire about wage recovery. If the company cannot meet its financial obligations, workers may apply to the government’s wage protection fund.