On March 30, multiple reports said the AbouThai branch in Sham Shui Po would be closed on March 31. At about 3 p.m. on March 30, The Epoch Times reporters headed to the AbouThai store on 257, Cheung Sha Wan Road, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong. There were only a few staff members but no customers.
When asked about the closure, a staff member confirmed that the Sham Shui Po branch would be closed on March 31. According to AbouThai’s website, there are still 25 branches in Hong Kong. However, lawsuits have been filed against AbouThai and its owner for owing HK$1.3 million (US$170,000) in rent covering at least five branches.
The Beginning of the End
On March 22, AbouThai’s owner Lam released a statement on Facebook. Lam announced, “Effective immediately, AbuTai hereby declares that our business no longer has anything to do with the yellow economic circle.”Yellow Versus Blue
The yellow economy circle is a term dubbed during the pro-democracy protests back in 2019. It describes a group of business owners that support the anti-extradition movement. Pro-democracy Hongkongers would primarily shop in these like-minded businesses that supported the Hong Kong Protests. Meanwhile, yellow shoppers would boycott businesses in opposition, blue shops, which are pro-police and pro-government.Public Outrage
An hour after the statement’s release, angry netizens flooded the comment section. Netizens called Lam a sellout, a “CCP dog” for betraying the pro-democracy Hongkongers who had supported Lam and given money to his business in recent years.Meanwhile, some questioned whether it was really Lam who sent the government-toned post. The boycotts began on Feb. 8, a chain of Hong Kong brands and suppliers announced the ceasing of cooperation with AbouThai, and that they would no longer supply products to the chain store.
Additionally, companies were taking AbouThai’s products off their shelves. Liberal companies also stopped offering AbouThai’s cash coupons or promoting anything related to Lam or its lifestyle franchise.
Morals Over Money
Lam’s long-time star partner, Chapman To, announced on Facebook that his brand Chapman’s Premium Select would no longer supply products to AbouThai chain stores in Hong Kong. At the end of To’s statement, the actor told his followers, “Everything is a choice. I respect everyone’s decision.”It was To’s response to Lam switching sides and becoming a witness for the prosecution, kowtowing to the regime.
The Hong Kong actor’s statement later influenced a domino effect of brands ending relationships with AbouThai.
Betrayal of Trust
The Hong Kong 47 case trial began on Feb. 6. Under the National Security Law, all defendants were charged with conspiring to subvert state power. Most defendants had been in custody for over a year while waiting for a trial date. Lam King-nam was one of the 47 defendants.Formerly pro-democracy, Lam switched sides to become a prosecution witness, and testifying against other democrats confirmed an earlier rumor. Lam is one of four defendants who turned prosecution witness. The other three included former LegCo member and convener of Civil Human Rights Front, Au Lok-hin, former democracy activist and convener of Power For Democracy, Chiu Ka-yin, and former Convener of Neo Democrats, Ben Chung Kam-lun.
Lam and his business AbouThai were critical members of the yellow economy circle and were beloved by many pro-freedom Hongkongers.
Since 2019, Hongkongers would frequent Lam’s stores in appreciation of his support of the Hong Kong Protests. AbouThai’s products were so popular that they would often be sold out. However, as soon as the news of Lam becoming a prosecuton witness in the Hong Kong 47 trial, netizens were taken aback.
Most AbouThai suppliers cut ties with the chain store, mainly because suppliers were all democracy supporters and did not appreciate Lam’s betrayal of Hongkongers. After netizens realized Lam’s plea to change sides, they were deeply concerned that he would leak their information to the police.
Meanwhile, the blue camp did not favor Lam’s sudden patriotism either.
On Feb. 8, Lam released a public statement on Facebook. Lam’s statement first addressed that “Hong Kong can’t afford chaos” and “the yellow economy circle was a wrong example.”
Lam also echoed the government’s tone and said AbouThai would continue to “serve Hong Kong” and “contribute to the country.”
AbouThai has also deleted previous posts and some of its official pages. Lam cutting ties with the yellow circle had caused a nose-dive in his business. AbouThai would later amass rent debts of HK$1.3 million.
Support for Xi Jinping’s Message
According to multiple media reports, in August 2022, upon being charged for the primaries, the once-freedom-seeking business owner shared his thoughts on the speeches Xi Jinping gave on July 1.Lam describes Xi’s speech as having “deep, significant, and profound meanings. He also said Xi Jinping’s reference to avoid “Hong Kong independence thinking” and believed that “one country, two systems” would be stable and far-reaching.
Lam reminded everyone not to break the law and steer away from anything that might link to the thoughts of Hong Kong’s independence.
Lam also stated that he believed, with the “perfected electoral system” under “one country, two systems,” more patriots would join the government and achieve great things.
Lam’s former followers were dumbfounded that Lam would say anything supportive of Xi, the Chinese authorities, or the CCP.
Lies Were Brought to Light in March 2021.
The National Security Bureau charged Lam King-nam and 46 other democratic figures, activists, politicians, and scholars with “conspiring to subvert the state power” under national security law for participating in the democratic election primaries.After one of the most lengthy hearings in Hong Kong history, Lam was released on bail for HK$1 million on March 4
Upon Lam’s release on bail, rumors circulated of Lam agreeing to be the prosecution’s witness in exchange for freedom. Former legislator Lester Shum O-fai shared his thoughts in a letter from prison, suggesting Lam was a sell-out.
Meanwhile, several netizens claimed AbouThai’s former employees accused Lam of secretly doing business in mainland China while profiting from the yellow economy circle.
On March 28, Lam argued the allegation was a “miscommunication with those in custody.”
Once a Freedom Fighter
Lam used to be a customs officer. In an interview in 2015, Lam said that the Hong Kong Customs Department fired him after expressing political views opposed to the government.Lam was a high-profile democratic figure during the anti-extradition movement in 2019. After his dismissal, he opened the AbouThai business.
The Glory of Its Past
Regarded as “yellow business,” both AbouThai and Lam stood against and opposed the Blue Camp, any groups pro-China and pro-government, or pro-police brutality.AbouThai and Lam received praise and loyal support from pan-democracy groups and people for the following few years.
In 2020, Lam tried to become a politician. He joined the Democratic primaries of the Legislative Council but lost the election. He was arrested for taking part in the primaries in 2021 by the national security police.
AbouThai shops used to be mini Lennon Walls where citizens could leave Post-it notes and pro-protester slogans such as Liberate Hong Kong and Remember 831 Prince Edward Attack during the anti-extradition movement.
As of March 30, at least five branches of AbouThai, including the flagship stores in Quarry Bay, Shatin, Mongkok, and Kowloon Bay, were in debt by nearly HK$1.3 million for unpaid rent.
Once a beloved and popular destination to buy products imported from Thailand, AbouThai had lost its glory and the loyalty of many Hongkongers to its business.
