Speaking on RTHK’s “In The Chamber” programme, Leung also suggested authorities set up a dedicated fund and cross-departmental team, to coordinate work on driving the industry’s growth.
The remarks came after the sector received a boost from the mainland’s Golden Week holiday, with tens of thousands of tourists flocking to various areas of the SAR.
But Leung said despite the short-term increase in revenues, the industry remains under pressure with rising logistics costs and economic headwinds brought about by the tensions in the Middle East.
He urged authorities to organise more mega events that combine tourism activities with delicate cuisines, citing past successes such as the Wine & Dine Festival which drew huge crowds last year.
“The elements of Hong Kong’s catering industry are actually very different from those in the mainland, as we have seven Michelin-starred restaurants that are graded with three stars, and over 200 caterers recommended by Michelin, among which 77 were with one star.
“So we have an abundant pool of unique, high-end, attractive restaurants,” he said.
“Also, we have cultivated our own Hong Kong food culture over the past years, and our cha chaan tengs or bing sutt are excellent with diverse dishes. All these are worth promoting to visitors,” he added.
Leung also said the city has “huge potential” to promote Muslim-friendly dining experiences so to attract high-value Muslim visitors, adding that travellers should be encouraged to explore cuisines in all 18 districts to mitigate over-crowding issues in tourist hotspots.
When asked how has the conflict in the Middle East has weighed on the industry, Leung pointed to rising logistics costs as many ingredients are sourced from the mainland and overseas.
“Now we’ve already seen a notable rise in transportation costs, and it’s a problem that can’t be avoided anywhere in the world.
“But perhaps the development of the Northern Metropolis in the future might help offer support on the logistics to transport more fresh ingredients [to the city from the mainland]?
“This is an area we can pay close attention to,” he said.
