Breaking Cultural Barriers Through Innovation

Traditional Hong Kong-style bakery items like pineapple buns, sausage buns, and sweetheart cakes typically contain lard during production to enhance flavor and texture. However, Islamic dietary laws strictly prohibit pork and pork-derived products, preventing Muslim visitors from experiencing these iconic local delicacies.

Entrepreneurial Vision

Kan Man-tik, a Muslim entrepreneur with extensive experience in the food industry, has spent years working to bridge this culinary gap. A decade ago, he established a central kitchen dedicated to producing halal Hong Kong-style bread without lard or preservatives, supplying his chain of tea restaurants. His operation successfully obtained halal certification from the Hong Kong Islamic Trust Fund. 

“Back then, I distributed pineapple buns to ethnic minorities so they could discover what these treats actually taste like,” he recalls.

Expanding Halal Options

Earlier this year, Kan opened a specialized “bread room” in his new Tsim Sha Tsui location, also receiving halal certification. This dedicated space ensures all produced items comply with Islamic dietary requirements, allowing Muslim customers to dine with confidence.

The bakery substitutes vegetable oil for lard in all recipes, with every ingredient requiring approval from Islamic authorities. All materials, from flour to chicken sausages, carry halal certification.

“I want to promote authentic Islamic and halal food, not just for religious people, but for all Hong Kong residents and everyone else. Halal food is very healthy, and our cooking methods are healthier too,” Kan explains.

Growing Market Response

Since obtaining certification, the establishment has received orders from nearby mosques including the Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre, plus patronage from tour groups from Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Kan credits the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s assistance with certification applications and promotion for helping showcase local cuisine internationally.

“I genuinely want to promote pineapple buns – their preparation technique is part of Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage,” he emphasizes.

Educational Initiatives

The Tourism Board employs three strategies – certification, education, and promotion – to enhance Hong Kong’s Muslim tourism infrastructure. In late June, they launched online training materials titled “Tips for Welcoming Muslim Travelers,” featuring videos and infographics explaining Muslim etiquette, dietary requirements, prayer rituals, dress codes, and festivals. This initiative aims to deepen industry understanding of Muslim culture and improve service quality.

International Recognition

The Muslim travel promotion organization Crescent Rating recently published its Global Muslim Travel Index, with Hong Kong ranking in the top three Muslim-friendly destinations (non-Organization of Islamic Cooperation) for the first time, earning recognition as the most promising Muslim-friendly travel destination.

Tourism Board Deputy Executive Director Yip Ching-tak notes that through collaboration with the Hong Kong Islamic Trust Fund, 190 restaurants have achieved halal certification as of mid-June, while 60 hotels have received Crescent Rating evaluations.

Market Potential

Hong Kong is actively developing Muslim source markets including Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian nations. Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Southeast Asian nations like Indonesia and Malaysia have substantial Muslim populations. In the first five months of this year, visitors from these markets exceeded 360,000.

Yip indicates the Tourism Board regularly hosts briefings encouraging industry recognition of Muslim market potential, while continuously inviting media and key opinion leaders to Hong Kong to explore Muslim-related facilities and services for subsequent promotion in their home countries.

“Although we’ve taken significant steps forward, we still need close collaboration with all sectors to establish Hong Kong as the preferred destination for Muslim travelers,” she concludes.

Original Article:

GovHK. (2025, July 6). 清真友善 商機盡現. news.gov.hk. https://www.news.gov.hk/chi/2025/07/20250704/20250704_151930_334.html