Up to 1,000 restaurants in Hong Kong, excluding hotpot and barbecue establishments, can soon welcome dogs under the first phase of a new voluntary license program, with the first batch of approvals expected as early as mid-year.
The program was first announced by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in last year’s Policy Address to foster pet-friendly spaces and stimulate the local economy.
Revealing the technical arrangements on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said the program's first phase will offer 500 to 1,000 licenses -- to be allocated by balloting if it’s oversubscribed.
Legislative amendments will be submitted to the legislature in the first quarter of this year, while applications are expected to be submitted in May, with the first batch of licenses to be granted the following month.
Successful licensees need to pay an endorsement fee of HK$140 ($17.9) within a specific period, and display a designated sign at the entrance of their premises once approval is granted.
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Subsequent phases will be considered, based on public response, with the next stage of applications due to be accepted late this year or early 2027 after about six months of operation.
For safety reasons, all dogs must be leashed (maximum 1.5 meters) and securely held by an adult or tied to a fixture. Classified “known dangerous dogs” and “fighting dogs” are banned from entering these restaurants.
Cooking or heating food directly on dining tables will be prohibited for safety reasons in case a dog gets agitated or becomes uncontrollable.
To ensure hygiene, dogs will not be allowed to use customers’ tableware, climb onto tables, or have food prepared for them on-site.
The FEHD will provide guidelines and host industry briefings. Restaurants can set their own specific rules, such as designating zones for dogs.
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Compliance will be monitored through inspections. Restaurant operators found to have violated the rules three times within a year may have their dog-friendly licenses revoked.
