Hong Kong’s Ocean Empire Food Shop, a restaurant chain famed for its Cantonese-style congee, abruptly announced its complete shutdown on Wednesday.
All employees were terminated with immediate effect, marking the end of a 33-year legacy in the city’s dining scene.
The dining chain’s parent company, Ocean Empire International Limited, informed employees in a letter that due to “deteriorating business conditions and financial difficulties”, management had regretfully decided to terminate all its business operations and will close down all its shops and offices.
The company will proceed with a creditors’ voluntary liquidation.
Employees were told they could file claims for unpaid wages, severance pay, and other entitlements, with further details to be provided later. They were also advised to consult the Labour Department about claim matters and their legal rights.
As of early Thursday, the remaining Ocean Empire outlets remained shuttered, with no public notices posted. Its website has not announced any news about its closure, however all instant congee products sold online are labeled as “sold out”.
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Founded in 1992, Ocean Empire claimed to be Hong Kong’s first congee chain, boasting over 30 outlets at its peak. However, in recent years, financial struggles led to multiple closures, with five branches shutting down in just eight months. Equipment from its Sha Tin branch was once scheduled for auction, sparking speculation about financial difficulties, but the auction was later canceled.
By April 2025, only seven outlets remained, located in Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Kwun Tong, Mei Foo, Fanling, Tuen Mun and Kwai Chung.
The Wan Chai branch was also reported to have faced legal action in August 2024 over three months of overdue rent, with the landlord filing a lawsuit in the High Court, demanding HK$813,000 ($104,673) in unpaid rent and breach-of-contract compensation, as well as the return of the premises.
In a desperate bid to attract customers, the Wan Chai store introduced a HK$10 all-you-can-eat congee promotion within a 45-minute time limit in October, drawing long queues.
Ocean Empire’s closure follows the impending shutdown of 44-year-old Daniel’s Group, another long-standing Hong Kong eatery, which will close its last outlet in Mei Foo by May 29.
