Hong Kong may design a new halal certification system for restaurants as part of the city’s efforts to further bolster ties with the Middle East and attract more leisure and business travellers from the region.
Tourism Board executive director Dane Cheng Ting-yat said on Monday authorities were considering establishing a new scheme next year that was “more suitable for Hong Kong”.
“The current system is extremely strict, which makes the number of restaurants that qualify very limited,” he said.
Hong Kong does not currently have a government halal certification system. Instead, the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong is responsible for granting certificates and ensuring businesses adhere to the requirements through unannounced inspections.