Hong Kong's pet-friendly restaurants: The first phase of 1,000 restaurant slots will be approved by mid-year.

Following the earlier announcement in the Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address that the government would introduce restaurant licenses that would allow dogs, the government today (February 3) officially announced the timetable for amending the Food Businesses Ordinance to relax the requirements for restaurant licenses to allow dogs to enter. The first round of applications is expected to be approved as early as the middle of this year.

The government plans to submit amendment proposals to the Legislative Council in the first quarter of this year. If the process goes smoothly, the first round of applications is expected to be approved by the middle of this year, at which time more truly "pet-friendly restaurants" will appear on the market. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department plans to initially offer approximately 500 to 1,000 slots, representing about 3% to 5% of all restaurants in Hong Kong. Applications will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis or by lottery. Approved restaurants will be required to post designated signs in a prominent location at their entrance so that customers who do not wish to dine with dogs can make informed choices.

Although the regulations have been relaxed, not all types of restaurants are eligible to apply for dog-friendly status due to safety and hygiene concerns. The new law explicitly prohibits hot pot restaurants, barbecue restaurants, and teppanyaki restaurants from applying to become dog-friendly eateries. Furthermore, even approved restaurants are subject to strict food handling restrictions:

• No cooking at the table: No food may be cooked or heated at the table at any time or in the seating area (to prevent dogs from getting burned if they lose control).

• Buffet restrictions: If there is a food heating area in the buffet, a minimum distance of 3 meters must be maintained from the seat; dogs are not allowed to sit at the bar tables connected to the open kitchen.

• Sharing is strictly prohibited: Restaurants must not allow dogs to use the restaurant's reusable tableware, nor can they cook dog food on the premises (only pre-packaged dog food or food brought by the customer is allowed).

For pet owners, bringing pets into restaurants also requires adherence to the rules. Being a responsible owner can lead to legal trouble! The new law stipulates that both restaurant operators and customers are responsible for managing their dogs. Violators can face fines of up to HK$10,000 and imprisonment for up to three months, with an additional fine of HK$300 per day. Restaurants with repeated violations may have their licenses revoked and be barred from reapplying for a year.

1. Leash restrictions: Dogs must be controlled with a leash no longer than 1.5 meters and held by an adult or tied to a fixed object.

2. Dogs not permitted: Known dangerous dogs and fighting dogs are not allowed to enter the restaurant.

3. Dogs are strictly prohibited from being served on the dining table .

In fact, some restaurants have in the past been complained about having dogs entering and prosecuted for violating the Food Business Regulations. As a result , many restaurants have adopted a compromise approach, allowing dog owners to park their pets outside the store and interact through open windows.

According to data from the Census and Statistics Department, more than 240,000 households in Hong Kong own cats and dogs, accounting for 9.4% of the total households, reflecting the huge potential of the pet economy. However, the old laws and regulations have made it inconvenient for many pet owners to dine out. With the new policy allowing the standardization of pet-friendly services, restaurants will be able to design pet-friendly areas or dining options, further tapping into the potential of the pet economy.

The new policy will end the 30-year ban on dogs in restaurants, pushing Hong Kong to become a more inclusive city for people and pets.