Why Hongkongers find a vegan lifestyle difficult to embrace
While options for adopting a plant-based diet are on the increase in the city, Hong Kong still has a long way to go before it catches up with other cities like Singapore, New York City, Taipei or London
The vegan movement is slowly but surely growing in Hong Kong. Every month, more restaurants are offering plant-based dishes. The city is often chosen for hi-tech vegan product launches. People are becoming more aware of where their food comes from, and social media is helping to spread the word about plant-based options.
Yet if we compare it to other cities like Singapore, New York City, Taipei or London, Hong Kong lags far behind. In fact, it’s still one of the highest meat-consuming cities per capita in the world, with the average Hongkonger eating almost four times more meat than recommended by the Department of Health.
Venture away from Hong Kong Island and finding vegan options is much more challenging. Most local restaurants hide minced pork, chicken powder, and fish sauce in almost everything. Many places are unwilling to accommodate diners with special dietary needs or deviate from their set menus.
Popular plant-based grocery items can only easily be bought in Western supermarkets – and let’s face it, veganism is largely a Western movement that’s taken longer to cross over to the whole of Asia.
If we examine Hong Kong more closely, it’s easy to see why people just can’t give up their suckling pig, roasted goose and foie gras as easily as other places can.
1. Hong Kong is a foodie capital
