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Chris Lau

Troubled gym chain California Fitness is facing a debt mountain of HK$130 million as it struggles to find a buyer amid growing fears for the jobs of the 500 staff it ­employs across the city, it has emerged.
As the list of disgruntled clients among the 100,000 members of the gym chain and its sister outlets mYoga and Leap grows by the day, the Post can also reveal that a Muay Thai kick-boxing world champion is being lined up as a potential white knight.
Hundreds of Hong Kong jobs at stake as California Fitness staff demand unpaid wages
It is understood that Bryan To Hang-lam, the founder of fitness chain Fight Factory Gym Martial Arts and Fitness Centre, is in talks with JV Fitness, which owns all three fitness titles. However, the longer the rescue attempt drags on, the greater the uncertainty over the future of both gym clients’ money and the jobs of staff.
Debts and legal liabilities continued to pile up for the chain, with at least four of its 12 outlets struggling to pay rent.
More than 1,000 California Fitness members in Hong Kong plan collective action to demand refund
To, a two-time World Muaythai Council International champion, who the source said came into the picture a month ago, ­declined to comment.
The source added although To and his team had been checking the books – only made available last week – the deal was in the balance as he was unable to reach an agreement with the owner, who the source identified as Wong Ping-kuen. It is understood that To, who worked for California Fitness a decade ago, has tabled a HK$100 million offer.
In an interview with Next Magazine , Wong denied he owned the chain. The Post understands ­another potential buyer – mainland fitness chain Tera Wellness – has withdrawn.
Wong, a JV Fitness director until May, filed a winding-up petition against the fitness chain last week via his BeSpark Technologies Engineering. About 30 ­people, believed to be JV Fitness employees, staged a protest outside its office yesterday.
A group of masked man also plastered notes on the front gate of Wong’s Kowloon Tong home yesterday morning, demanding he repay a HK$6 million debt. ­Police are seeking four suspects caught on closed-circuit television camera.
After Wong’s winding up petition, concerns deepened when a California Fitness branch in Whampoa shut on Monday. Since then, at least three more branches and a Leap centre have faced or are likely to face court action for unpaid rents and fees. As of yesterday, the Customs and Excise Department had received more than 160 complaints about the closure of the Whampoa branch.


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California Fitness

Offer for troubled Hong Kong gym chain California Fitness as debts hit HK$130m

It is understood that Bryan To Hang-lam, the founder of fitness chain Fight Factory Gym Martial Arts and Fitness Centre, is in talks with the British Virgin Island’s-registered company JV Fitness, which owns all three fitness titles, Photo: SCMP Pictures

Financial woes of Hong Kong gym chain California Fitness spread to mainland China with Beijing branch shutting its doors

This branch of California Fitness in Beijing was closed on Friday. Photo: SCMP Pictures

A notice paper says California Fitness closed in Beijing today. 08JUL16 SCMP Pictures (Handout)

Gym trainers are seen at BeSpark Technologies Engineering Ltd, parent company of California Fitness in Kowloon Bay. 07JUL16 SCMP/ Nora Tam

Hundreds of Hong Kong jobs at stake as California Fitness staff demand unpaid wages

The chain’s Quarry Bay outlet owes its landlord HK$2.82 million. Photo: Sam Tsang

More than 1,000 California Fitness members in Hong Kong plan collective action to demand refund

The California Fitness Whampoa branch in Hung Hom was closed after the club failed to pay electricity and rental fees. Photo: Felix Wong

Legislator Priscilla Leung Mei-fun speaks during the second reading of the copyright amendment bill at Legco Chamber in Tamar. 16DEC15 SCMP/ Dickson Lee

Masked men plaster former California Fitness director’s front gate with demand notes

The incident lasted only one or two minutes, said a source with knowledge of the case. Photo: SCMP Pictures

News

Potential white knight, Muay Thai kick-boxing world champion Bryan To Hang-lam, lined up amid growing job fears for 500 staff of California Fitness
