HONG KONG people like to eat out. Over the past decade, the popularity of eating out has increased, as is reflected by the figures for household expenditure on food.
Some 10 years ago, expenditure on meals bought away from home accounted for less than half, 41 per cent, of an average household's total expenditure on foodstuffs. Now, the figure is around 56 per cent.
This suggests an expansion of the restaurant sector in Hong Kong. Let us look at more statistical data.
In 1981, there were 4,594 establishments in the whole restaurant sector in Hong Kong. The number had doubled to 9,184 in June 1992.
Over the same period, total employment in the restaurant sector increased by 59 per cent to 190,100 persons.
The sector benefitting most from this rapid growth, was the fast food industry, which has increased significantly in popularity.