July 1, 2026 | Restaurants roll out promotions as people line up in a long queue. A 40-yuan teahouse set is cut down to 28 yuan. Diners: “We’ve hit the jackpot!”

To celebrate the 29th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return, more than 3,400 eateries are taking part in the July 1 dining industry promotions and discounts. This newspaper’s reporter observed today (the 1st) around Causeway Bay. The malls in the Causeway Bay area are bustling with shoppers, and some restaurants offering July 1 deals have queues longer than their shop spaces. A resident said the promotional activities are attractive and people will spend more today. Another tourist said the government’s publicity is insufficient and suggested promoting more on Xiaohongshu.

Children Plan Their Itinerary Based on the Deals: Lunch, Science Museum, Then a Ferris Wheel

This newspaper’s reporter visited two chain restaurants in Causeway Bay around 2 p.m. today to conduct an inspection. For chain restaurants offering July 1 deals, a cha chaan teng set that originally cost 40 yuan is now only about 28 yuan to “pay the bill,” and the line at one point stretched to the neighboring shop space. Ms. Luo, who was lining up for afternoon tea, said that upon hearing about the offer from the reporter, she immediately exclaimed, “Awesome!” However, she said she had just come by the free tram; the carriage was extremely crowded, so she would rather “pay two yuan to take the ride.”

Madam Tsang, who came specifically to “eat roast goose,” praised the strength of the discounts, saying, “It’s usually rare to get this good a deal.” With experience shopping in Northern China, she said that even after deducting the discount, spending in Hong Kong is still more expensive than in the mainland, but today she would still “spend a little more.” She also plans to take the tram more in the next two days, but hopes buses can also join the promotions in the future, “bus fares are quite expensive on regular days.” As for the “M+” free admission today, Madam Tsang said it was too hot and there were too many people, so she does not plan to go.

Chen, a child accompanied by his father, is familiar with the various July 1 deals. He said that after lunch, he plans to go with his father to the Tsim Sha Tsui Science Museum, then take the Ferris wheel, and finally return home by tram. He believes the strength of today’s discounts is more than sufficient.

Residents Urge “Extra Rounds” of Promotions; Even a Grandmother Steps Away After Seeing a Sea of People

Some residents also hope that the discounts can be “topped up” further. Ms. Chen, who was dining at a restaurant, said she did not know in advance and only “planned to come over to eat.” She felt that the one-day deadline for the promotions is too short and provides limited help to business, and that “the prices are actually pretty much the same.” She believes that extending the promotion period would better help stimulate residents’ spending.

It was very hot, and some people who were queuing chose to leave. Grandmother Lau said she usually goes out to eat, so today she would also “go out to eat,” but “it’s a sea of people—I want to leave.” When asked whether she would visit a restaurant with the promotions later, she said, “I don’t even know where there’s a promotion—I’m completely not clear.”

In addition to residents, there were also tourists queuing. Ms. Zhou and Ms. Xie, both tourists from the mainland, also did not know about the July 1 deals. They said they only saw many people queuing and chose this restaurant. They believed that while the promotions can help stimulate consumption, the Hong Kong government’s publicity is insufficient, and suggested promoting more on the mainland social platform Xiaohongshu. However, Ms. Zhou also said that the promotions instead caused too much foot traffic and unbearable crowding, adding that she would choose to avoid coming to Hong Kong for July 1 in the future.

Foot traffic around Causeway Bay was also strong. Although there were no July 1 deals, some malls offered members free coffee vouchers. Other malls even set up July 1 exclusive promotions at their Kai Tak branch.

In addition, there were plainclothes and uniformed police officers patrolling in many areas of Causeway Bay, and 3 to 4 officers were stationed at entrance and exit points of the MTR station. At around 2:30 p.m., “Big Yellow Uncle,” aged 102, who had previously taken part in social movements, appeared on Tong Kok Road in East Causeway Bay, leaning on a cane. He said that after coming to Causeway Bay today, he was very happy to see “old friends,” and he also chatted with passersby.