Hing Lap Limited has filed a claim in the High Court against Garden Restaurant Limited, seeking more than HK$2.07 million including interest over alleged unpaid rent, service charges and quarterly rates. The claim concerns the restaurant operator’s branch at Sunrise Building on Hong Ning Road, Kwun Tong. The allegations in the filing have not been tested in court.
According to the filing, Hing Lap owns the whole of the first and second floors at 7-9 Hong Ning Road and signed a tenancy agreement with Garden Restaurant on June 10 last year. The lease covered the second floor, with a three-year term beginning in August last year. Monthly rent was HK$190,000, in addition to about HK$10,000 in monthly service charges and quarterly rates.
The parties also signed a separate licence agreement allowing Garden Restaurant to use the building’s lift lobby and stairs for HK$100 a month.
The plaintiff alleges that Garden Restaurant began falling behind on rent and other charges from November last year. It also says the landlord reduced the rent by more than HK$90,000 this year, but that the tenant still breached the lease and did not clear the alleged arrears.
Hing Lap says it sent two letters demanding payment in March and April. According to the filing, more than HK$1.13 million remained unpaid at the end of April.
The claim was filed before the report was published. Star Headline reported that no response from Garden Restaurant Limited was included, and it did not provide a hearing date or court ruling. The amount sought and the alleged breach therefore remain matters for the court to determine.