Catering Industry Smells A Good Time Ahead

"); jQuery("#212 h3").html("

"); jQuery(document).ready(function() { jwplayer.key='EKOtdBrvhiKxeOU807UIF56TaHWapYjKnFiG7ipl3gw='; var playerInstance = jwplayer("jquery_jwplayer_1"); playerInstance.setup({ file: "http://newsstatic.rthk.hk/audios/mfile_1381069_1_20180215122806.mp3", skin: { url: location.href.split('/', 4).join('/') + '/jwplayer/skin/rthk/five.css', name: 'five' }, hlshtml: true, width: "100%", height: 30, wmode: 'transparent', primary: navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Trident")>-1 ? "flash" : "html5", events: { onPlay: function(event) { dcsMultiTrack('DCS.dcsuri', 'http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1381069-20180215.mp3', 'WT.ti', ' Audio at newsfeed', 'WT.cg_n', '#rthknews', 'WT.cg_s', 'Multimedia','WT.es','http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1381069-20180215.htm', 'DCS.dcsqry', '' ); } } }); }); });

2018-02-15 HKT 12:28

Share this story

• 

  Bookings for family dinners for Chinese New Year have been steady, say restaurant owners. File photo: RTHK

Simon Wong talks to RTHK's Joanne Wong

A good economy and record-breaking gains made by the stock market are prompting more families to shell out generously ahead of the Year of the Dog, says a catering industry expert.

The head of the Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, Simon Wong, said local restaurants recorded a combined turnover of more than HK$110 billion last year as more people were willing to go out to eat.

He said customers also didn't cringe at paying over 10 percent more for family dinners ahead of the Chinese New Year and reservations had filled up early.

The head of the federation, which represents around 6,000 eateries, said tables for company spring dinners are fully booked all the way to late March at some restaurants.

Wong told RTHK's Joanne Wong that though labour remains a problem, he is hopeful for a good year ahead for the sector.