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Nikki Sun

A heated cook-off can be expected in the city’s much-anticipated food truck scheme as applications closed yesterday with a whopping 192 bids for the 16 licences available in the first two years.
Disclosing the figure yesterday, Commerce and Economic Development Secretary Greg So Kam-leung said he expected the first food truck to start operations by year’s end or early next year.
“This is a very good tourism project,” So, who has been tasked with implementing the scheme, told reporters at the end of the two-month application period yesterday.
Among the 192 applications received, 79 were from individuals and 76 from companies, with the remainder put up by business partnerships.
Some 82 applicants proposed Chinese food menus while 74 planned to sell Western style food.
Hong Kong’s food trucks scheme leaves operators with a bad taste in the mouth
“The competition is intense for applicants,” said Simon Wong Ka-wo, chairman of the Federation of Restaurant and Related Trades, describing it as a case of “too many monks with little supply of gruel.”
So said a review committee will be set up to choose qualified applicants based on their menu proposals and business plans in the first stage of selection, followed by a cook-off challenge in the second stage.
Wong, who had been consulted on the pilot project, told the Post the committee will invite about 10 veterans from catering and tourism sectors to decide who get to run one of the 16 trucks.
Celebrity chef Ricky Cheung Kam-cheung of Le Mieux, who specialises in French cuisine, is among the confirmed jury members, Wong said.
Despite the fierce competition, Wong said small players still stand a good chance to win, as creativity – instead of funding – will be the vital ingredient.
The scheme, announced in Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah’s budget last year, will allow 16 food trucks to operate in eight tourist districts as a way to diversify the city’s tourism industry, which has relied too heavily in recent years on shoppers from the mainland.


Gordon Lam Sui-wa, a former sommelier, is among those who threw his hat into the ring.
“One-tenth chance is not too bad,” Lam said, who expressed confidence in his signature dish, a hotdog-cum-instant noodles platter.
Lam imported a HK$800,000 food truck from Denmark and even though he applied as an individual, Lam said local restaurant chain LHG Group is backing him. “They promised to provide technical support...but there was no money involved,” he said.
The criteria for selection comprise the food concept and menu, accounting for 40 per cent of the marks and the business proposal and design of the vehicles making up 25 per cent each. The remaining 10 per cent will be given to “startup” applicants. Lam said he was off to a good start, with 10 points in the bag as a start-up applicant.


Hong Kong food truck scheme gets 192 applications in just two months

The scheme is intended to help diversify the city’s tourism industry. Photo: Jonathan Wong

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Economy

Commerce and Economic Development Secretary Greg So expects first truck to commence operations at end of this year or early next year


Hong Kong food truck scheme gets 192 applications in just two months

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Commerce and Economic Development Secretary Greg So expects first truck to commence operations at end of this year or early next year

Commerce and Economic Development Secretary Greg So expects first truck to commence operations at end of this year or early next year