--- title: "COVID-19 | Catering Industry: Government's LeaveHomeSafe App Needs Incentives Such as Higher Seating Capacity" locale: "en" language: "en-HK" published: "2020-11-04T13:31:19+08:00" updated: "2026-03-17T23:01:53.069Z" canonical: "https://accordhk.com/blog/covid-19-catering-industry-government-s-leavehomesafe-app-needs-incentives-such-as-higher-seating-ca-79" --- # COVID-19 | Catering Industry: Government's LeaveHomeSafe App Needs Incentives Such as Higher Seating Capacity The government plans to launch the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app. Users scan QR codes posted at premises and are notified if they visited a venue around the same time as a confirmed case. Simon Wong of the Quality Tourism Services Association says that incentives such as extended business hours or a 10% increase in seating capacity could encourage restaurants to respond. Respiratory specialist Leung Tze-chiu says the app's effectiveness depends on whether the government can provide incentives for public use. ## In brief The government plans to launch the "LeaveHomeSafe" app, but no launch date has been confirmed. The catering industry says only 10% to 20% responded to past voluntary measures, and incentives such as extended business hours or a 10% increase in seating capacity could encourage participation. The government plans to launch the "[LeaveHomeSafe]()" mobile app. Members of the public can scan QR codes posted at premises. If a confirmed case is found at a particular venue and a user visited that venue at around the same time as the confirmed patient, the app will send the user a notification. Simon Wong, Chairman of the Quality Tourism Services Association and President of the Rice Seedling Institute, said on an RTHK programme this morning (3rd) that the industry is already weary of the requirements of the anti-epidemic and social distancing regulations, and that only 10% to 20% of the industry responded to previous voluntary measures. If the government could offer more incentives, such as approving extended business hours or a 10% increase in seating capacity, he believes this would encourage restaurants to respond actively. Respiratory specialist Leung Tze-chiu said that the app's effectiveness depends on whether the government can provide incentives to encourage the public to use it. Simon Wong, Chairman of the Quality Tourism Services Association and President of the Rice Seedling Institute, said that three weeks ago the Innovation and Technology Bureau and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department briefed the catering industry on the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app, but a launch date has not yet been confirmed. Once the app is launched, the industry can print QR codes and post them in prominent places in restaurants, for members of the public to scan and "check in" after downloading the app. Wong said the industry is already weary of the requirements of the anti-epidemic and social distancing regulations, and that only 10% to 20% of the industry responded to previous voluntary measures. If the government could offer more incentives, such as approving extended business hours or a 10% increase in seating capacity, he believes this would encourage restaurants to respond actively. Asked whether restaurants strictly comply with the anti-epidemic rules, Wong said frankly, "There will always be people in the world who speed or jaywalk," and that he has already urged the industry to follow the rules fully. He also said that a 75% seating capacity is hard to judge by eye; some restaurants have removed some tables and chairs, and some have arranged for only three people to sit at four-person tables, and none of these constitute violations. Lee Hon-shing, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Hotel Owners Association, said that the "[LeaveHomeSafe]()" mobile app is a good thing for protecting public health and safety, and that he will also give serious consideration to participating. Respiratory specialist Leung Tze-chiu said that in Singapore and the Mainland, such apps are mandatory, but Hong Kong people differ in how acceptable they find mandatory arrangements. He believes the app's effectiveness depends on whether the government can provide incentives to encourage the public to use it. He also said that if personal data is stored only on users' phones, the government could simplify the app as much as possible and introduce an automatic mechanism so that people do not have to scan each time they arrive at a place. Original article: https://bit.ly/3kXr2Gz ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the LeaveHomeSafe app? It is a mobile app the government plans to launch. Users scan QR codes posted at premises, and if a confirmed case appears at a venue the user visited at around the same time, the app sends a notification. ### Has the launch date of the app been confirmed? No. According to Simon Wong, the Innovation and Technology Bureau and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department briefed the catering industry three weeks earlier, but a launch date has not yet been confirmed. ### What incentives does the catering industry want? Simon Wong said that incentives such as approving extended business hours or a 10% increase in seating capacity could encourage restaurants to respond actively. ### How did the industry respond to past voluntary measures? According to Wong, only 10% to 20% of the industry responded to past voluntary measures, as the industry is already weary of the anti-epidemic and social distancing requirements. ### What does Leung Tze-chiu say about the app's effectiveness? He says its effectiveness depends on whether the government can provide incentives to encourage the public to use it. He also suggests simplifying the app with an automatic mechanism if personal data is stored only on users' phones.