Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, on the Food Truck Pilot Scheme and tourism at a media session after attending a radio programme today (July 28):

Reporter: Mr So, 16 winners have been chosen to run these food trucks. First of all, have you tried any of the dishes, and which one is your favourite?

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: I wish I had tried the dishes, but I did not because I am not one of the panelists. If I had become a panelist, I would be able to try the dishes. But, having said that, I’d really like to try every single one of the dishes. This morning I was thinking, there are so many colleagues of mine - three senior secretaries and 13 secretaries, I would like to invite every one of them, perhaps to take turns and try samples of these products. I myself would like to go to try all 16 of them. I particularly like desserts, so the one with the “pancake ball” as well as the Chinese Hong Kong drink with richness of flavour would be my favourite. Also all the other ones, especially anything with bread, the one with deep fried bread, I think that one is the most impressive.

Reporter: These food trucks will mainly target tourists. How are the tourism numbers doing?

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: The tourism figures are quite positive for the first half of the month of July. It’s too early to say whether that would be a new trend, but certainly you can see that in the month of June still, overall, there is a decrease in tourists’ inflow of about 1.7 per cent (year-on-year change). But turn that tide around, in the first half of July, there is quite a positive sign. I hope this momentum will continue, and I hope the Food Truck Pilot Scheme, when it is implemented, will add into the fabric of the attractions that we offer to the tourists.

Reporter: What is the main reason for this improvement?

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: There are various reasons. I think the decrease last year was triggered by the global economic situation, as well as the currency devaluation of some of the other competitor destinations, together with the visa restrictions. I think the initial reaction of some Mainland tourists going to these places would be very positive. And I think this may be now approaching more of a new equilibrium. And so I hope that will continue, and also would add to the attractiveness of Hong Kong to bring in more overnight tourists and high-spending tourists to Hong Kong.

 (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Thursday, July 28, 2016
Issued at HKT 11:22

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