Hong Kong man arrested after abandoning date & sticking her with S$14,000 restaurant bill

A man in Hong Kong was arrested for leaving his date to foot a massive HK$84,453.60 (S$13,900) bill at a luxury restaurant on Aug. 28.

Hong Kong English news outlet The Standard reported that the 23-year-old man, surnamed Wong, was arrested on Aug. 29.

According to Hong Kong news site HK01, the incident took place at the Man Wah, the Mandarin Oriental hotel's Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant. 

HK01 added that Wong, who claimed to be a lawyer, went to the restroom after dining and never returned.

His date, a 31-year-old woman, was unable to find him and contact him.

Expensive dinner choices

According to a receipt from the restaurant, the pair ordered two premium set dinner meals which cost HK$2,388 (S$390) per person.

Each set included expensive dishes such as wagyu beef, bird's nest and abalone.

They also ordered two servings of 10-year Pu'er tea.

On top of that, they racked up the bill with a bottle of champagne. The bottle of 2002 Krug Clos d’Ambonnay cost HK$71,800 (S$11,800).

Together with a 10 per cent service charge, the entire meal cost HK$84,453.60 (S$13,900).

Unable to foot bill

Faced with a staggering bill, the woman was unable to pay and called her friend to settle it.

She then called the police at around 10pm to report the incident.

HK01 reported that police initially classified the case as a "fraud".

However, the victim later changed her statement and said she was only requesting records. The case was then classified as a "request for police assistance".

Possibly premeditated

According to The Standard, the pair met on Telegram where Wong claimed he was a lawyer.

The Standard understands that the incident may have been premeditated by Wong.

This is because he allegedly called the restaurant to reserve a table and asked about the availability of the premium French champagne ahead of time.

Staff then told him that the 2002 and 2006 vintages were both available.

Based on his behaviour, a veteran food and beverage industry insider suggested to The Standard that Wong appeared to have set up the date with the victim on purpose.

Though the victim said she required no further police assistance, she returned to file another report the next day. This prompted an investigation.

Wong was then arrested on Aug. 29 in Tseung Kwan O, on suspicion of obtaining property by deception. 

Just out of prison

Prior to this arrest, Wong was recently released from prison.

He had just served a two-year, nine-month sentence for sexual crimes. These crimes were committed under similar online dating pretences.

In 2023, Wong was convicted of luring women to hotels and coercing them into non-consensual sexual acts when he was 19, as well as serving as a community outreach officer for a political party in Kwan Po.

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the Hong Kong police have granted bail to Wong regarding his most recent arrest.

Wong was released on bail on Aug. 31 but must report back to the police in late September. No charges have been filed against him.

Top photos via HK01 and Man Wah's Facebook