Hotel shows best of taste in giving

The Eaton Hotel in Yau Ma Tei will be handing free food to the needy from tomorrow after it had to close its doors to the public during evenings.

The hotel's "Pay It Forward" program will offer food to low-income groups and individuals affected by the pandemic financially at three eateries - Flower Years, Vietnamese Fuhn and Souper Kitchen - its food hall.

People who can afford to be generous are encouraged to add a meal to their orders and donate it to those in need.

Or they can simply pay for food by purchasing a meal credit at one of the eateries without collecting food. That will be held until claimed by someone in need.

The three eateries will open from 12pm to 8pm Monday to Sunday.

The hotel will allow people to dine in them before 6pm, but they can also take their own food there before closing.

Also, the hotel's banquet hall, which has recently allowed visitors to eat there, will open from 11am to 3pm.

Separately, the Eaton has joined with Water For Free, a project of green group Go Green Hong Kong to provide drinking water to the needy.

In addition, it has provided 600 packages of food to families in need in collaboration with Sister Bento, an enterprise that helps low-income single mothers and underprivileged kids who live in subdivided flats.

Apart from hotels, restaurants offer free food to the needy during the pandemic. Chan Cheuk-ming - better known as "Brother Ming" - a roast meat restaurant owner in Sham Shui Po has been delivering free meals to the elderly in the district.

And restaurant chain Gingko House has distributed free meals to grassroots families.