Letters | What Hong Kong must do to truly harness the pet economy’s potential
Readers discuss a proposed scheme to allow pet dogs in restaurants, increasing accountability in the bureaucracy, and museums in deficit
If Hong Kong aims to fully harness the economic potential of its growing pet-owning population, it must move beyond sporadic permissions to a comprehensive, cross-departmental policy agenda aimed at unlocking the untapped spending power of pet owners. This is a latent market waiting to be served.
Hong Kong, despite having a dog population that runs into hundreds of thousands, lacks the ecosystem to fully cultivate the pet economy’s potential.
A pet owner’s journey to enjoy a simple meal out with their dog is fraught with logistical obstacles. First, they would have to find a licensed pet-friendly restaurant. If they lack a car, their transportation options are limited to the more costly options like Uber Pet, as mass public transport remains largely off-limits. Pet-friendly malls are few. Once pet owners arrive at them, they are likely to face mall by-laws, such as mandatory pet strollers, and restaurant-specific rules.