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Wynna Wong

Hong Kong will press ahead with its new dog-friendly dining scheme despite a public backlash and the withdrawal of 11 participating restaurants, the environment minister has said, describing the situation as part of an initial adjustment period.
Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said on Sunday that authorities would step up inspections and public education to reduce rule violations.
The scheme took effect on July 9.
“Photos posted by internet users are not fake. These things must have happened, but they are not widespread,” he said, referring to images showing dogs being fed with restaurant utensils or placed on tables, which had sparked heated online arguments between pet owners and regular diners.
“We hope that through inspections and education, non-compliant and inappropriate behaviour will gradually disappear during this adjustment period.”
Tse said authorities had so far approved 11 applications from restaurants seeking to withdraw from the voluntary programme.
Restaurant chain Cafe 100% was among the first to pull out just a day after the scheme began, with the Tseung Kwan O branch removed from the list.
Its Nam Cheong and Ma On Shan branches also put up signs stating that dogs were no longer accepted, with employees citing safety concerns due to limited space and the handling of boiling water.
But Tse saw no reason to put the policy on hold, noting that only a small proportion of the city’s restaurants were allowed to admit dogs and that both businesses and customers remained free to opt out.
“We will continue to observe whether there are areas that need improvement,” he said, urging restaurants to follow the rules and pet owners to keep their animals under control.
Tse also said there were no plans to limit eligible restaurants by type or size, adding that operators should assess whether the scheme suited their clientele and business model.
He said restaurants in areas with few dog owners, or those serving customers in crowded surroundings, might find the scheme less suitable.

Food and Environmental Hygiene Department director Albert Yuen Yuk-kin earlier described the withdrawals as a “responsible move”, saying restaurants could leave the scheme or delay admitting dogs if they needed more time to address staffing, space or operational constraints.
He said both the catering industry and the public needed time to adjust after decades in which dogs were generally barred from food premises.
The initiative, announced in last year’s policy address, ended a 30-year ban on dogs entering restaurants that had originally been introduced to guard against rabies.
More than 900 restaurants and eateries joined the scheme when it was launched.
Under the new arrangement, participating premises must obtain dog-entry permits and follow requirements covering matters such as designated dining areas, dog restraints and hygiene.
Authorities earlier said the roll-out had drawn about 20 complaints, mostly involving minor breaches such as leash lengths and seating arrangements.
The department said that it had deployed a dedicated 90-member team and carried out 2,300 inspections, issuing verbal warnings under a “counsel first, enforce later” approach during the adjustment period.
Most operators corrected the problems after receiving guidance, according to the department.
But officials warned that serious or repeated breaches affecting hygiene or food safety would still attract immediate enforcement action during the grace period.


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Christen Ng with her 10-year-old dog, Mushroom, at Uluru cafe in Wan Chai on July 9, the day the new regulation took effect. Photo: May Tse

Old Fung Tea House in Mong Kok allows dogs inside under the new scheme. Photo: Sam Tsang

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan (centre in white) visits a restaurant at West Kowloon Cultural District on the first day of the scheme. Photo: Sam Tsang

A branch of Cafe 100% in Nam Cheong is no longer accepting pets, though it still holds a licence. Photo: Elson Li

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A dog owner with her pets visit a restaurant in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Photo: Jelly Tse

Resident Leona Li could not easily fit her stroller carrying her bichon frise at Choubo Kissaten. Photo: Handout

Pet owner Leona Li said the table at Peking Garden was hard to access. Photo: Handout

Residents dine with their pets at the Old Fung Tea House dim sum restaurant. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hongkongers’ new pet peeve over dogs at diners sparks calls for tougher vetting

Customers enjoy a meal with their dog in tow at Old Fung Tea House in Mong Kok. Photo: Sam Tsang

Lawmaker Jonathan Leung says the initial “chaos” will only happen once as the industry settles in. Photo: Eugene Lee

Lawmaker Adrian Pedro Ho describes the initial friction as an expected “adjustment period”. Photo: Karma Lo

Professor John Burns says the city lacks experience in implementing pet-friendly dining. Photo: Handout

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Hong Kong

Society

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan says authorities will step up inspections and public education to reduce rule violations


Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan says authorities will step up inspections and public education to reduce rule violations.


Pets in Hong Kong

Tse Chin-wan

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department

Hong Kong will press ahead with dog-friendly dining despite backlash, pullouts

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan says authorities will step up inspections and public education to reduce rule violations

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan says authorities will step up inspections and public education to reduce rule violations