Previously lively Hong Kong restaurants have been impacted by the trend of local residents travelling north for consumption, resulting in a series of closures. (Video screenshot)
[People News] There has been a frequent mention among Hong Kong residents of the phrase "another collective memory is gone," which is quite alarming in its prevalence. In the past, conversations among Hong Kong people often revolved around how many points the Hang Seng Index had risen that day, but now, the most common topic is which long-established brand that has been part of their lives is bidding farewell today. Statistics show that in the last four months, at least 14 restaurants across Hong Kong have closed, leaving locals feeling quite nostalgic.
Media reports indicate that since the beginning of this year, at least 14 restaurants in Hong Kong have closed, including the Long Bao Restaurant, which has been in operation for 60 years and has been located in Kwai Fong for 14 years, the Good Fortune Seafood Restaurant, which has been in business for 30 years, the “Tsui Wan Fishing Port Restaurant” in Chai Wan Tsui Wan Plaza, which has been operating for many years, the renowned Cantonese restaurant “Han Teng Ge,” which has been open for 40 years, the elite chain “Star Seafood Restaurant Group,” which has been in business for 20 years, and the well-known Cantonese brand “Tsui Yuen” under the Maxim's Group, which has been operating for over 50 years.
Comprehensive media reports suggest that the wave of closures affecting Hong Kong restaurants (especially large Chinese restaurants) from 2023 to 2026 is not due to a single factor, but rather the result of multiple pressures, including the impact of consumption travelling north, soaring operating costs, a shift towards downgraded consumption, and changes in business models.
The most significant threat to Hong Kong's restaurants comes from the consumption habits of Hong Kong residents in the mainland. The extremely convenient cross-border transportation options, such as high-speed rail and buses, have accelerated the integration of Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Residents have found that restaurants in Shenzhen and Guangzhou not only offer prices that are only slightly lower than those in Hong Kong, but also provide comparable service quality and spaciousness. Following the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, travel times between Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macao have been drastically reduced to under one hour, prompting more Hong Kong residents to spend their weekends in places like Shenzhen, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai. This has led to the phenomenon of 'empty cities' in Hong Kong on weekends. Traditional restaurants, which heavily relied on weekend family gatherings, are now witnessing a significant portion of their business shift to the mainland, with funds that would have been spent in Hong Kong being massively 'leaked' out, resulting in a sharp decline in seating rates during peak hours for these establishments.
The high rents and rising ingredient costs have further intensified the financial pressure on restaurants, while the sluggish economy in Hong Kong has altered the consumption behaviour of its residents. Where they once casually ordered 'abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, and pig's stomach', they now tend to choose discounted dim sum or individual small dishes. Moreover, the anticipated revival of the 'night economy' has not materialised, and residents have grown accustomed to returning home early, leading to the near disappearance of the highly profitable 'second round' of dinner service in restaurants.
As they witness the closure of long-established brands one after another, many longtime residents lament not only the loss of familiar flavours but also the end of the prosperous era when 'waiting for a table to drink tea' was the norm. This situation serves as a microcosm of the broader economic malaise that has affected Hong Kong in recent years.
Unemployed workers stand in confusion at the entrance of the restaurant, waiting for their severance pay, which casts a shadow over passersby. This scene also stirs up memories of the once vibrant atmosphere of Hong Kong's dining establishments. As the neon lights along the street flicker out one by one like falling dominoes, the unique liveliness and warmth of Hong Kong appear to have gradually faded. The sense of security that Hong Kong once offered its residents has vanished in the wake of this 'business closure tsunami.'
Who has undermined Hong Kong's fortunes?
Historically, feng shui masters have regarded Hong Kong as a land of prosperity. This belief has contributed to the remarkable economic success of this small territory, establishing it as a global financial hub.
Numerous esteemed feng shui experts and seasoned fortune tellers have noted that after the sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1997, various projects initiated by the CCP in Hong Kong have disrupted its feng shui, resulting in a significant downturn in the region's fortunes.
In May 2021, Hong Kong feng shui master Xiangshan Xiyang remarked during an interview with the Epoch Times' 'Truth and Facts' program that many buildings funded by the Hong Kong government and approved by Beijing post-1997 are visibly serpentine in design. Notable examples include the West Kowloon High-Speed Rail Station, the cruise terminal, the Heart Sutra Forest, the cycling park, the Handover Tower, the Central Link, the artificial island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Golden Bauhinia, and the Hong Kong Handover Monument, among others.
He characterised the West Kowloon High-Speed Rail Station as a massive snake head, describing it as 'covered in scales and armour.' The Central Road intentionally detours through Shekou, causing all vehicles to exit directly in front of Shekou, creating a scene reminiscent of a 'poisonous snake exhaling mist,' with the snake's head positioned right in front of the International Finance Centre. Furthermore, the giant turtle at the Wan Chai Convention and Exhibition Centre, along with the 'three demons competing for the pearl' at the Central Ferris Wheel, will ensure that Hong Kong remains in a state of unrest. △
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