Hong Kong’s ailing food truck scheme extended for two years, but operators say they need more help
Only one of the city’s 15 vendors is turning a profit
Hong Kong’s ailing food truck scheme was extended for two years on Wednesday, although operators said they were disappointed at the lack of additional support to make their ventures financially sustainable.
The Tourism Commission decided that the trial would continue until February 2, 2021 after some measures were introduced over the past few months to improve the operating environment and flexibility for those taking part.
A federation comprising all 15 food truck operators said most of them had been losing money or breaking even at best since the tourism scheme was introduced about two years ago. Only the Pineapple Canteen truck, which offers the city’s signature pineapple buns, has been turning a profit.
“There is a market for food trucks,” Hong Kong Food Truck Federation chairman Gordon Lam Sui-wa said. “I am really disappointed and surprised that there is a lack of a supportive policy to help make the business viable, and the existing measures tend to tie our hands.”