Newlyweds left out of the picture

A Tsim Sha Tsui wedding photography shop that closed without notifying customers has left many couples out of pocket.

The Pageant Wedding and Photo Studio in the Oriental Crystal Finance Centre in Chatham Road charged up to $10,000 for 'the works' - the hire of a gown and tuxedo, studio photography and a banquet video.

The Consumer Council has received 10 complaints and 20 inquiries, while the police received 18 complaint from couples claiming they had been cheated out of up to $20,000 each. Police are treating the case as suspected deception.

Consumer Council spokesman Kenneth So Wai-sang said they had received 10 complaints from couples who had not yet received their photos and 20 inquiries from consumers wanting to know their rights.

A bailiff from Kwun Tong Court collected all the photographs from the shop yesterday. 'We advise people to register with the Kowloon bailiff's office if they wish to reclaim photos they paid for,' Mr So said.

He did not know exactly when the shop closed.