Authorities are investigating the sudden closure of the Hotstone Yoga chain, which has left customers facing financial losses estimated at around HK$430,000. As of 5 p.m. yesterday, the Consumer Council had received 27 complaints related to the chain’s shutdown, involving a total reported loss of HK$429,326.
The Customs and Excise Department has posted a public notice outside Hotstone’s Kwun Tong studio informing the public that an investigation is underway. The department indicated it will take enforcement action if any violations of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance are identified.
A customer, who identified herself only as Chan, reported that the closure affected at least 500 clients. Chan said some customers had been encouraged to purchase additional class packages shortly before the shutdown, with some packages priced as high as HK$29,700 for 180 classes. Chan herself purchased a package for HK$11,880 in July, which included 63 classes, but had only used 19 sessions when the studio closed.
Chan said she was notified of the closure via a WhatsApp message from Hotstone just one hour before her scheduled class at the Kwun Tong location on Tuesday evening. The message, issued by law firm Cheung & Co and also posted outside the studio, stated that the company was closing after careful consideration “due to business operations and other actual circumstances.” The notice said operations would cease at the end of business hours on Wednesday and invited individuals with claims against Hotstone to submit relevant documents via email.
The company’s notice also advised affected staff to consult relevant government departments about their rights and indicated that Hotstone would provide necessary documentation “where reasonably practicable” to assist with related procedures. Hotstone pledged to pay employees’ wages for September and refund class fees for that month by October 5.
Most of Hotstone’s social media platforms were disabled by yesterday afternoon. According to the business’s now-inactive Threads account, Hotstone had operated for 10 years with multiple studios across Hong Kong, including locations in Central, Causeway Bay, Aberdeen, Jordan, Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin, and Kwun Tong. The company claimed to have been the first studio offering hot stone yoga sessions and said it employed over 100 experienced instructors teaching yoga, stretching, dancing, and gym classes.
Despite assurances from Hotstone, Chan expressed doubt about receiving any refund. She noted that some customers had already reached out to police, customs authorities, and the Consumer Council, and others attempted to recuperate losses through credit card issuers. Chan also mentioned encountering two instructors at the Kwun Tong studio who appeared unaware of the chain’s closure as of Wednesday.
Efforts to obtain comment from Hotstone and the police were not immediately successful. The investigation into the company’s sudden shutdown remains ongoing.