About-to-shut Kee Club is being sued for nine months’ rent - over HK$1m - in High Court
Company running exclusive Central club set to close this week says rent was delayed in exchange for waiving management fees, but landlord says there was no such agreement
The company that operates exclusive Central nightspot Kee Club is being sued for more than HK$1 million in unpaid rent, according to a High Court writ.
The writ was filed in the Court of First Instance on January 9 against Life Is Not Ltd by Long Yau Properties Ltd, the owner of the Yung Kee Building at 32 Wellington Street where Kee Club is located. Long Yau is a subsidiary of Yung Kee Holding Ltd, the company owned by the Kam family which runs the famous Yung Kee roast goose restaurant in the same building.
SCMP.com reported last week that Kee Club would be shutting its doors on January 20. The report quoted a Kee spokeswoman as saying the closure was a surprise move, and connected to the family dispute involving the Kam family which has made headlines in recent years.
However, Yung Kee spokesman Sam Leung told the Post: “Kee Club is looking to move out of the current premises because it has not been paying the rent for more than nine months. The decision has absolutely nothing to do with Yung Kee’s family affairs.
Exclusive Hong Kong dining and night spot Kee Club to close this month
“This is a financial dispute between Life Is Not Ltd and Long Yau Properties Ltd; Yung Kee Restaurant operations are not involved in the dispute.”