Halal food search a chore for businessman

Oguzhan Meral, a Turkish businessman who visits Hong Kong to source materials for his Islamic art and craft business, says he did not know where to eat in the city. So he settles for mainly cheese and olives that he has brought with him.

The 47-year-old merchant says he does not even order breakfast at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Wan Chai where he stays, because the food is not halal - permissible food under Islamic dietary laws.

Meral makes Islamic craftwork that are sold to Muslim countries around the world and sources the materials at the Canton Fair and Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair every April.

On visiting Yiwu, Zhejiang, known for international sourcing, he says there are many good halal restaurants there.

He says he's thought of getting McDonald's food in Hong Kong, but doubts it would be halal - meat processed in accordance with special requirements. Halal food does not only forbid pork and alcohol but even cattle and lamb have to be slaughtered in a special way so as to limit pain on the animal.

And fortunately, Meral says, there is the Wan Chai mosque in the area. Otherwise, he adds, it would be difficult to find a place to pray.

As a Turk, he does not have difficulty visiting and doing business in Hong Kong. But he struggles over where to visit and where to shop. But guided by a new local friend, he has managed to visit the Jamia Mosque in Central, Kowloon Masjid in Tsim Sha Tsui and parts of Central, Admiralty and Kowloon City.

There are six mosques and 62 halal-certified restaurants and food outlets in the city. Cathay Pacific also serves halal food and there are two prayer rooms at the Hong Kong airport.