Hong Kong restaurants enjoy up to 15% National Day boost in business driven by deals, optimism

Many Hong Kong restaurants enjoyed a bump in business by as much as 15 per cent on Tuesday driven by National Day celebratory offers including discounts of up to 30 per cent at more than 3,600 outlets.

Michael Leung Chun-wah, chairman of the Association for Hong Kong Catering Services Management, said the industry had enjoyed a 10 to 15 per cent increase in business.

“Restaurants’ promotional offers have made an impact,” he said. “The flow of patrons increased especially at housing estates, while restaurants’ overall business has improved. We are all happy with the performance [on Tuesday].”

Leung noted that the outflow of locals going north on Tuesday would decline while the arrival of more than 1,000 mainland Chinese tour groups over the next few days would help boost restaurants’ business.

Simon Wong Ka-wo, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, said industry revenue would be close to HK$300 million (US$38.6 million) on Tuesday, the same as last year, while the recent surge in local stock prices had contributed to optimism.

“Sentiment has improved along with so many celebratory events and fireworks. Everyone feels happy and willing to loosen their purse strings,” he said.