Catering groups on Monday joined hands to hold a competition to encourage restaurants to introduce innovative dishes, amid disappointing business at the city's eateries.

The Golden Chopsticks Creative Culinary Competition invites restaurants to think of new Chinese dishes to attract more diners. Ideas can be submitted until October 31.

Lawmaker Tommy Cheung said the competition will not be able to "tackle all ills", but will encourage restaurants to break new ground.

"We have had complaints from our customers in the last couple of years, and they probably could not see anything new compared to... if they travel to the Greater Bay Area," he said.

"[We want to] stimulate restaurateurs and hoteliers to think of new dishes so that customers from Hong Kong, when they come to our restaurants, they would have something new, and they probably want to come back again."

Jonathan Leung from the Association of Restaurant Managers said some local diners prefer to try out restaurants on the mainland, and there's a need to make Hong Kong's eateries more appealing.

"We see the economy seems to slow down a little bit... People are going northbound for multiple reasons, but I think we are getting back to our momentum. And with this competition, I hope that will help the development of our industry as well," he said.