High rent, strong competition and a lack of variety have been blamed for the sudden closure of Hong Kong's Burger King outlets.

Several Burger King outlets in Hong Kong have closed, leaving only two stores operating, local media reported on Wednesday.

Simon Wong, president of the Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, said he believed high rents played a major factor. The fast food chain hasn't been aggressive enough in developing new products that suit local tastes.

"Burger King is quite conservative in developing new products," Wong said, adding that its competitors have been quite aggressive in inventing new products that suit the market.

Hong Kong's two remaining Burger Kings are on The Peak and at the airport after the five closed in Wan Chai, Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei, Wong Tai Sin and Tseung Kwan O. The Labour Department has received enquiries from affected workers.

The owner and operator of the closed outlets, Perfect Combo, has recently been taken to court for back rent amounting to about 8 million HK dollars (1.03 million US dollars).

The US-based global fast food chain first arrived in Hong Kong during the 1980s. But it closed all its outlets in the 1990s until the return of a shop at the Hong Kong International Airport in 2003.