Hong Kong may set limit of 2 dogs per diner under new pet-friendly policy
Shifting earlier stance after receiving feedback, environment chief also says licence might be granted to larger eateries only in first phase
Hong Kong authorities are considering allowing a maximum of two dogs per diner into restaurants licensed under a new pet-friendly policy, with the permits possibly being granted only to larger premises at the outset.
A day after authorities told lawmakers that they had no intention of setting limits on the number of dogs per customer allowed into restaurants, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said on Wednesday that the government was reconsidering the matter after receiving further feedback.
“We previously did not focus on this matter, but we received a lot of feedback saying that one principle is that diners must control their dogs … If a dog bites someone, it is definitely the owner’s responsibility,” he told a radio show.
“If a diner brings too many dogs, we also feel it may not be easy to control. I expect that two is the maximum. We will determine the exact number after consulting experts.”
Tse said the government was also considering whether to grant licences only to larger eateries in the initial phase of implementation.
“We’ve heard many opinions suggesting that very small restaurants might not be suitable if it results in everyone being crammed together when dogs are present,” Tse said.
“We will discuss with industry stakeholders and experts to determine a reasonable threshold [on floor area] that balances the needs of all parties.”