Hong Kong’s ‘golden week’ visitors could boost restaurant sector by 20 per cent, but industry warns staff shortages may create long queues
- Industry figures predict increased demand over holiday period, but warn staff shortfall still headache
- Restaurant group chairman says it has been uphill struggle to hire more people to work in sector
Hong Kong’s food and catering sector has said it expected a 20 per cent jump in business from the mainland China “golden week” holiday, but warned that a continued staff shortage could leave would-be diners facing long queues.
Ray Chui Man-wai, the chairman of Kam Kee Holdings, which runs 44 restaurants with about 1,000 employees, said earlier this week he expected the holidays to boost takings.
“We are not worried about getting business. Instead, we are worried about whether we have the ability to conduct business,” Chui said. “We are very short of manpower and we need that to accommodate many tourists.”
He added he had “exhausted all means” trying to hire more people, including offering higher salaries.
Simon Wong Ka-wo, the president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, agreed that customer numbers would be 20 per cent higher for the week around Labour Day.
