More food truck spots in Hong Kong to be considered, minister says, after operators struggle
Commerce secretary addresses concerns over high costs and rigid locations, saying authorities are taking a ‘flexible and loose’ approach to the scheme
Hong Kong’s commerce minister on Thursday countered concerns that a two-year food truck pilot scheme had fallen short of expectations, by pledging to explore more locations for operators.
The plan came after a third operator out of the original batch of 16 called it quits earlier this month, struggling with high costs and strict regulations.
The scheme has drawn criticism from the get-go due to issues ranging from the high cost required to meet the government’s standards and the long process to win licence approval, to the poor, rigid choice of locations for the trucks, which are required to stay put at designated spots.
But Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah told a radio show on Thursday that the city’s Tourism Commission had already adopted a “very flexible and loose” approach to the scheme.
“Some have voiced concerns that it is very hard to operate in certain locations and that the rules are a bit too strict at some. In response, we have proposed different approaches,” he said.