Hong Kong (HK) has moved closer to having its first batch of halal-certified restaurants under the city’s Q-mark certification scheme by the end of this year, with its Finance Chief insisting the next step is to expand international promotional efforts targeting Muslim tourists.
Finance Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the rise of the halal economy reflected a wider shift and signalled the growing economic influence of the Global South.
HK is targeting to increase its number of muslim tourists, and it is planning to scale up international promotions to these travellers. In the first 8 months of 2025, HK welcomed 54,000 visitors from the Middle East alone, a 40% jump from the previous year.
To enhance service quality and recognition of restaurants, the federation and the Islamic Community Fund launched the Hong Kong Q-Mark Halal Scheme in August. The scheme is designed to help Muslim residents and tourists to easily identify high-quality halal dining options. The first batch of restaurants receiving Q-Mark halal accreditation should be ready to welcome guests by the end of the year or by the first quarter of 2026. Eventually, Q-Mark accredited restaurants will be all over HK.
To ensure the integrity of halal food, apart from sourcing raw materials from halal sources, dishes must also be prepared separately from no-halal food to avoid cross-contamination, and all cooking equipment and utensils should be thoroughly cleaned by Muslim staff or trained personnel. This might require remodelling of kitchens and staff training, as well as employment of muslim staff onsite to supervise the operation.
HK itself is home to 300,000 muslims or 4% of its population. As such, the new scheme will not only encourage tourism but also helps its own residents when searching for halal food.
