Hundreds of unemployed and elderly people queued yesterday to grab free lunchboxes from 7-Eleven outlets in a promotion that also attracted the unwelcome attention of government food inspectors.
In the latest move in an expanding fast-food war that saw five major chains introducing discounts and special offers last month, three of the busiest 7-Eleven outlets gave away 1,500 lunchboxes from the chain's new cooked food menu.
They will give out the same number of lunchboxes today at 12.30pm and similarly long queues are expected.
The stores - in Causeway Bay's Times Square, the Fou Wah Centre in Tsuen Wan and Tsim Sha Tsui's Star House - had to turn away dozens of people by noon after each store had given out 500 coupons for the rice boxes.
Two hawker control unit inspectors visited the outlet at Times Square after a complaint, according to an inspector.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said 7-Eleven could give out pre-cooked lunchboxes without an additional licence as long as there was no on-site preparation. It denied it had received a complaint yesterday.
