Hongkongers flock to support AbouThai retail chain raided by customs officers over mislabelled goods
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On Sunday afternoon, more than 100 people queued up at the AbouThai branch in Queensway Plaza in Admiralty, with the line snaking around the exterior of the shop.
Among them was a retiree surnamed Zhong, who bought bottles of wine with the slogan “Hong Kong add oil” written on the packaging. The wine also came with a wooden crate that had the words “Freedom 2019” printed on it.
“It’s the Hong Kong spirit,” Zhong said. “This is an international city, so I can buy all types of products such as Australian wine, lobster and steak. There is no need to stick with Chinese products.”
He was referring to calls to support Australian products after China imposed a raft of punitive restrictions on imports from Australia amid deteriorating relations between the two countries.
Zhong believed AbouThai had room to improve in terms of product labelling, but said he believed it was a double standard that other businesses with the same issues were not raided.