-
Advertisement
Hong Kong
OpinionLetters

Letters | Why dogs should be allowed on the Star Ferry

  • Readers discuss one way for the Star Ferry to reverse its fortunes, eight skills to equip children with in the age of AI, and help for kids with speech disorders

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
4
A pet owner and her dog on the West Kowloon waterfront. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Letters
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification.
Earlier this year, the Star Ferry increased its fares in an effort to survive, but even so, its fate remains uncertain. No one wants this Hong Kong institution gone, and there is another way to boost revenue that has been staring us in the face, especially in the last few years: allow dogs on the Star Ferry.
Many Hongkongers discovered the joy of dog ownership during the pandemic, and much of Hong Kong has capitalised on this trend. The waterfront promenade on Hong Kong Island is now dog-friendly and many dog parks have opened in recent years. Malls such as IFC Mall and Peak Galleria allow dogs, and there are even hotels offering pet-friendly staycations.
Advertisement

Hong Kong is as pet-friendly as it has ever been – except when it comes to crossing the harbour.

As it stands, you either need a car or must take an expensive taxi ride to cross the harbour, which cuts off many dog-friendly activities for a lot of people.

Advertisement

Most ferries leaving the Central Piers, save for the Star Ferry, allow dogs to board with their owners. Dog-lovers also seem to be less price-sensitive; if you told a dog owner it was HK$5 (US$0.64) for a ferry ride but an additional HK$10-20 for the dog, they would happily pay. Worried about other passengers who might be scared of dogs? Then allow dogs to board only every other ferry, or allow them only on the lower deck; we can keep those cynophobic tourists safe too. Do you know how many island-bound dog lovers would go to the East Kowloon Waterfront if they could take their pets on the Star Ferry? How many dogophiles from Kowloon would take their pups to The Peak if they didn’t have to spend on a taxi each time?

Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x