Acting SCED speaks to media on Food Truck Pilot Scheme

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, at a media session on the Food Truck Pilot Scheme before attending the Shaw Prize Award Presentation Ceremony today (September 26):
 
Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: Two hours ago, we have announced the extension of the Food Truck Pilot Scheme for two more years. The scheme has been in operation for about 20 months so far and over the past 20 months, we have seen that some of the operators, about one-third of them, have been doing quite well as compared to the aggregate performance statistics of other dining and drinking places of similar scale. Business performance aside, we also saw that three operators have successfully launched their brick and mortar shops over the course of the Scheme riding on the marketing effect of the scheme.
 
     Since the launch of the Food Truck Pilot Scheme, we have rolled out a number of refinement measures. We try to improve the business environment and enhance the operational flexibility. For example, we have introduced a number of new operating venues; we have provided a more flexible shift arrangement; and we have also allowed the operators to participate in the self-identified events. Speaking of these self-identified events, as of August this year, we have received a total of 44 applications and we have approved all these 44 applications, so that is 100 per cent approval.
 
     We will also work with different organisations and invite the food trucks to participate in mega events, the tourism mega events and the sporting mega events, for example, the Hong Kong Cyclothon, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, the e-Sports and Music Festival Hong Kong, the New Year Countdown Celebrations and the upcoming Hong Kong Tennis Open etc.
 
     In the years to come, we are going to continue to work closely with the food truck operators. We will try to provide more operating venues and roll out more refinement measures whenever and wherever practicable.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)