Hong Kong authorities have ruled out the possibility of requiring labelling for pre-cooked meals at restaurants, citing the absence of uniform standards and varying interpretations of the concept.

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan told lawmakers on Thursday that the government would continue to develop standards and certifications for prepared dishes to support the industry’s growth in the city.

During the Legislative Council meeting, lawmaker Edmund Wong Chun-sek asked if the government would consider making it mandatory for eateries to clearly label premade dishes on their menus.

“Pre-made dishes are in the middle of rapid development and we cannot rule out that some businesses would introduce pre-made meals with a large amount of preservatives to chase after quick profits,” Wong said.

“As consumers, it is our right to know whether the food we eat is a pre-made one.”

But Tse rejected the proposal.