Work from home, call for meals: food delivery platforms provide lifeline to Hong Kong’s empty restaurants

A food delivery driver (left) wearing a face mask as a precautionary measure in Hong Kong. Food delivery, once considered unnecessary in a city with numerous tasty options on practically every street, has now provided a lifeline to stricken businesses. Even luxury hotels Mandarin Oriental in Central and The Royal Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui have introduced their own delivery services. — AFP

Social distancing and stay-home measures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong have boosted the food delivery market, with luxury hotels and a top-notch cake shop joining the game.

The three main delivery platforms, Deliveroo, Foodpanda and Uber Eats, have seen orders rise, with more food outlets signing up too.