Hong Kong protests: Maxim’s Group distances itself from ‘rioters’ comments by founder’s daughter after Sha Tin restaurants targeted
- Annie Wu said protesters did not represent Hong Kong
- In response, food group’s businesses were targeted during Sunday rally in New Town Plaza
One of Hong Kong’s largest food and catering firms has issued emergency guidelines to staff and apologised to customers after restaurants under its ownership were targeted by anti-government protesters in Sha Tin’s New Town Plaza during a rally on Sunday.
Protesters targeted the Maxim’s Group after its founder’s daughter, Annie Wu Suk-ching, called protesters “rioters”, and said they did not represent Hong Kong.
“Some reports have said Wu is a manager at the company. We hereby state that Wu does not hold any position at the company, nor is she involved in any managerial decisions,” Maxim’s said in a statement on Tuesday.
On Sunday, protesters marched around the shopping centre in Sha Tin, targeting businesses with mainland connections, or those known to have criticised the protests. They painted graffiti on store fronts and jammed restaurants’ digital table booking systems.
Cafes and restaurants owned by Maxim’s, one of Hong Kong’s largest food and catering firms, were adorned with stickers saying “support high-ranking officials and police” and “777”, which refers to the number of votes Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor received in the 2017 election.