Hong Kong retail chain Chickeeduck, famed for protest stance, to cease all operations as mainland China supply cut and other lines ‘disrupted’
- Businessman Herbert Chow thanks supporters in Facebook post
- Sole store in Causeway Bay and online website will close down after June 30
A Hong Kong children’s clothing retail chain known for its anti-government stance on Wednesday announced it would cease remaining operations next month, as its supply chain in mainland China had been cut off.
Businessman Herbert Chow Siu-lung, founder and CEO of Chickeeduck, said its Causeway Bay store and online website would shut down after June 30, ending 33 years in the market.
In a Facebook post on his personal page on Tuesday, Chow said he “could not bear” to close down the chain, but his supply line on the mainland had been cut, while those in Southeast Asia were “constantly disrupted by people”.
“We think it is really too pointless [to carry on], and I don’t want my colleagues to continue to struggle,” he wrote.
“Thanks to your support over the past 33 years, it is my honour to be able to contribute to Hong Kong, and I would have done it again, knowing the consequences of today’s closure. True Hongkongers, please accept my 90-degree bow.”
Chow also told the Post his factories had received threats, including being sent written warnings.
Chickeeduck has also been slashing prices of its products in the past two months, according to the chain’s Facebook page.
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At the time, he said suppliers from the mainland and overseas had received warnings not to do business with his company.
Kid’s clothing store will not remove protester statue, Chickeeduck founder says
Last year, he displayed a protest statue in the Chickeeduck store at D-Park shopping centre in Tsuen Wan, only for the mall operator to quickly order its removal.
He eventually took down the feature, claiming “political suppression”, and later said he had been ordered to vacate the premises when his lease expired.
Chow said he had experienced difficulty renting shop space and many landlords declined to renew his leases. At its peak, Chickeeduck had some 20 outlets across the city.
He made headlines again in May 2021 when national security police searched the Chickeeduck shop in Tsuen Wan.
A court ruled this year that use of the phrase could incite others to commit secession, an offence under the security law.
