Still in its infancy, the Hong Kong food-truck scheme has suffered a setback with Capital Cafe quitting even before it hit the road.

A new vendor will be invited from the government’s waiting list as a replacement following the withdrawal of the Hong Kong-style cafe chain for “business reasons”.

Capital Cafe was chosen to join the tourism scheme after winning a cook-off challenge last year with its Iberian Pork Club Sandwich. It had planned to offer halal-certified Cantonese pastries, such as wife cakes, to attract international Muslim tourists. It had not yet secured the required licences but had already bought a truck.

Owner Swadiq Khan has confirmed the decision without explanation, but last year the Hong Kong-born Muslim said he was concerned about whether his truck could make a profit. He said excessive registration and licensing requirements plus red tape had significantly driven up costs.

Meanwhile, food truck owners who have already launched say they have had mixed fortunes, reports the South China Morning Post, prompting some to expand their menus to include traditional snacks such as fish balls and siu mai.

Food sellers at such spots as Salisbury Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui have handled more than 500 customers a day, but at Central’s harbourfront there have been only about 100 customers, according to official statistics.

The two-year pilot scheme was unveiled by former financial secretary John Tsang Chun-wah as a way to diversify the city’s tourist offerings.