The Government has decided to extend the Food Truck Pilot Scheme for two years to February 2, 2021 after evaluating its operation, the Tourism Commission announced today.

The commission said although the performance of some of the 15 food trucks was average, the overall situation reflected there was room for business for food trucks. Therefore it has decided to extend the scheme for two more years.

As for operating venues, except for AsiaWorld-Expo which will not participate further in light of its development plan, the management of all the other 11 existing venues have agreed in principle to continue accommodating the food trucks to operate in their venues.

Speaking to reporters today, Acting Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Bernard Chan said: “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.”

Mr Chan said since the scheme’s launch, a number of refinement measures have been rolled out to improve the business environment and expand operational flexibility.

“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% approval.”

Other adjusted measures include allowing operators to opt whether to operate at the scheduled designated venues, and to identify new operating venues for the Government to consider and follow-up.

Mr Chan said the Government will work with different organisations and invite food truck operators to participate in mega tourism and sporting events such as the Hong Kong Cyclothon, Dragon Boat Festival, the e-Sports & Music Festival, New Year Countdown Celebrations and the upcoming Hong Kong Tennis Open.

“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,” he added.