Eighty-seven percent of restaurant diners in Hong Kong often left food behind, which means HK$7.1 billion ($910 million) worth of food is wasted every year, according to an environmental group's study.

The Green Student Council interviewed 1,000 people outside restaurants and fast-food chains in October and November last year. Only 13 percent said they eat all the food they are served most of the time. About 35 percent said they wasted 30 percent to 60 percent of the food, and 10 percent said more than 60 percent. Sixty-nine percent said that the reason is that the portions of food served are too big. Restaurant operators respond they have to serve big portions because otherwise, the customers feel they are cheated.

(Wen Wei Po)