Title: A study of Halal airline meals in Hong Kong under One Belt One Road Policy

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1 Title: A study of Halal airline meals in Hong Kong under One Belt One Road Policy Yuk-Ting Chow Lecturer, Division of Business, Hong Kong Community College, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University ytchow@hkcc-polyu.edu.hk Kin-Lok Keung Student, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University dickykeung.research@gmail.com Contact Number:

2 Abstract According to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the global Muslim population estimated to be around 2.0 billion. The total value of the halal food market which including both food and non-food segments is said to be some US $ 2.3 trillion and this trend is still emerging. By 2030, the global Muslim population is estimated to reach 2.2 billion which representing some 25% of the world s consumers [1]. Meanwhile in Hong Kong, there are an estimated number of Muslim followers as at 2016 [2]. This provides a market for halal airline meals when the Muslim followers fly to Hong Kong. In addition, according to the HKIA, the passengers and air cargo handled by HKIA from million passengers and 4.52 million tonnes to million passengers and 8.9 million tonnes [3-4]. Still, the Airport Authority has been planning to expand the airport into a three-runway system, Midfield and West Apron [4]. It means that there are more freight between Hong Kong and different areas. Furthermore, with the One Belt One Road Initiative, it set to transform access to markets across Asia. This would certainly increase the traffic to and from some Muslim countries in the Southeast Asia, Middle East, and the northwest of China that are dominant by Muslim followers. There is a magnificent opportunity that more Muslim s passengers travelling by air transportation to Hong Kong. The Halal food airlines meals will be increased. In Southeast Asia, there are already a number of airlines offering the Halal airline's meals such as Sri LanKan Airlines (Sri LanKan Catering), Malaysia Airlines (Brahim s Airline Catering), Singapore Airlines (SATS Catering), Vietnam Airlines (Vietnam Air Caterers), and AirAsia (SANTAN) [5-10]. In Hong Kong, there are three aircraft caterers with a combined capacity of meals [11]. Considering Halal airline s meals account for only a few of their existing production, they are far from an expert in such area. Instead of normal airlines meals rules and regulations, there are numerous rules it need to follow while manufacturing the Halal airlines meals. To be considered as Halal food, the healthy animals need to be slaughtered with a single cut and animals need to be killed in the name of Allah. The meals should be free from pork and its byproducts, alcohol and blood and blood by-products. If the cargos or material handling equipment are used for transporting pork and its by-products, alcohol and blood and blood by-products or other varieties of stuffs that violating the Quran. There are also other further processes to follow according to the law of Islam [12].Therefore, unlike vegetarian meals, halal food meals manufacturing means much more than just a change in food ingredients, but a fundamental rework of food making process. In the regular airline's meal, there are an array of matters which need to concern, for instances, food safety and food security, shelf life, sterile and non-sterile activity, logistics and in-flight handling (80% logistics and 20% catering) or even bioterrorism [13]. According to Ko and Chen research findings, the factors on Menu Design for Airline Catering are including production process, marketing, professional abilities, cost, quality, safety, hygiene, consumers perception, trust and loyalty [14]. While producing the Halal airline meals, companies should consider, but not limited to those factors mentioned by Ko and Chen. According to the HKTDC, a number of South African halal food producers have high hopes that Hong Kong could prove the ideal gate way for processing and distributing their exports across the region, given the role of Hong Kong in the Belt and Road Initiative [15]. Meanwhile, China is forthwith studying to boost its share of the global halal food market. Therefore, Hong Kong s potential and position in halal airline meals should be re-examined in consequence.

3 Research question What are the challenges of providing the Halal food airlines meals in Hong Kong? What are the rules and regulations for the airline meals companies or providers in the world and in Hong Kong? What are the related government policies in providing Halal airline meals in Hong Kong? What are the Muslim customer s attitudes towards Halal airline meals in Hong Kong? How do the aircraft caterers in Hong Kong produce Halal airline meals? What are the critical successful factors of meal design of Halal airline meals? Methodology Qualitative research: Open ended with face-to-face interview, questionnaires and surveys o Target interviewee: Muslims in Hong Kong, Airline meals providers, Cook of Halal food airline meals o For example: asking the interviewees (Muslims) about the catering experiences in flight and the quality of current Halal food airline meals. Critical literature reviews: rules and regulations, government policies, technology, safety and hygiene, manufacturing and processing, transportation. Expected results In the academic point of view, this work aims to enhance the knowledge about the Halal food in the airlines by reviewing the existing literature on general air catering and interviewing stakeholders on halal air meals and re-examine the factors of meal design in according to Halal Airline meals. In the industrial point of view, this work may provide references for the manufacturers or entrepreneurs in knowing the concerns of their customers. In addition, they may know what are the critical successful factors and risks for providing the Halal airlines meals and rework their food processing strategies.

4 Reference [1] Economists-pick-research.hktdc.com. (2018). Certification: The Key to Accessing ASEAN s Halal Market HKTDC. [online] Available at: research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/expert-opinion/certification-the-key-to- Accessing-ASEAN-s-Halal-Market/eo/en/1/1X000000/1X0A82S2.htm [Accessed 16 Jan. 2018]. [2] Research Office -- Legislative Council Secretariat (2017). Fact Sheet : Religious facilities in Hong Kong. FS01/ [online] Hong Kong: Legislative Council Secretariat, pp.1-9. Available at: [3] Prisc.hsmc.edu.hk. (2018). Greater Bay Area Symposium on Logistics and Trade Facilitation Policy Research Institute of Global Supply Chain. [online] Available at: [Accessed 16 Jan. 2018]. [4] Hongkongairport.com. (2018). Our Business - About The Airport - Welcome to HKIA - Hong Kong International Airport - Hong Kong International Airport. [online] Available at: [Accessed 16 Jan. 2018]. [5] HalalTrip. (2018). Airlines in Southeast Asia Offering Halal In-Flight Meals. [online] Available at: [Accessed 22 Jan. 2018]. [6] Airasia.com. (2015). SANTAN: AirAsia restaurant in the sky AirAsia. [online] Available at: [7] Bitten by the Travel Bug. (2016). Behind the Scenes at Malaysia Airlines Catering Facility. [online] Available at: [8]Serendib.btoptions.lk. (2011). Halal Certification. [online] Available at: [9]Sats.com.sg. (n.d.). In-flight Catering - SATS. [online] Available at: nflightcatering.aspx [10] Cathay Pacific -- Catering Services (H. K.) Ltd. (2007). Food for Thought -- Vietnam Air Caterers. Issue 20. [online] Hong Kong: Cathay Pacific -- Catering Services (H. K.) Ltd., pp Available at: [11] Hongkongairport.com. (n.d.). Our Business - About The Airport - Aircraft Catering - Hong Kong International Airport. [online] Available at:

5 [12] Economists-pick-research.hktdc.com. (2017). Malaysia: A Leading Global Halal Food Hub HKTDC. [online] Available at: news/article/research-articles/malaysia-a-leading-global-halal-food- Hub/rp/en/1/1X32LK39/1X0A92JB.htm [Accessed 22 Jan. 2018]. [13] Sheward, E. (2015). Aviation Food Safety. [online] Institute of Food Science and Technology-IFST AGM November Available at: [Accessed 22 Jan. 2018]. [14] Ko, W. and Chen, F. (2016). A Study of the Factors on Menu Design for Airlines Catering. Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management, 4(2). [Accessed 16 Jan. 2018]. [15] Economists-pick-research.hktdc.com. (2018). South Africa Seeks Hong Kong Partners for BRI Halaal Food Distribution HKTDC. [online] Available at: research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/international-market-news/south-africa- Seeks-Hong-Kong-Partners-for-BRI-Halaal-Food- Distribution/imn/en/1/1X000000/1X0A6LFU.htm [Accessed 16 Jan. 2018].

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