No plans to drop dog-friendly restaurant policy despite online backlash, Hong Kong minister says

There are no plans to halt a new policy allowing dogs to enter permitted Hong Kong restaurants and cafes, a minister has said amid online backlash.

Pet dogs inside Wan Land Mori cafe in Kowloon City on July 12, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Tse Chin-wan, the environment and ecology minister, said on NowTV on Sunday the policy is still in “teething stage,” which came into effect on July 9.

Backlash against the policy arose online after some people shared photos and complained about dog owners feeding their dogs with restaurant utensils, and allowing dogs on dining tables.

While some raised concerns of hygiene, others defended the policy, saying that dogs are not as dirty as one might assume. They said that those who dislike dogs can simply choose other restaurants that do not hold the dog-friendly permits.

“The photos shared by netizens are not fake; these incidents definitely happened. However, this is not a widespread issue. We hope that through our inspections and education, we can gradually eliminate non-compliant and improper behaviour during this adjustment period,“ Tse said in Cantonese.

He added that the government is only allowing a small number of restaurants to participate in the new scheme, which is a voluntary one.

“Both the restaurants and the customers have a choice. Therefore, we see no need to halt the policy. We just need to learn as we go, and we will monitor the situation to see if improvements are needed in the future,” Tse said.

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan meets the press on January 26, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

The official said authorities had granted 11 applications so far for restaurants that applied to quit the scheme.

Hong Kong government issued licenses to 940 restaurants and cafes under the scheme to welcome pet dogs in catering venues after receiving over 2,200 applications.

There are over 17,000 restaurants in Hong Kong as of 2023, according to the government.The minister said the government will not introduce more requirements for restaurants, such as venue size and nature. Instead, restaurants should consider its capacity and customer profile before applying for permits, he added.

Decades-old policy revamped

Under the new policy, all Hong Kong restaurants, except for hotpot and barbecue restaurants, can apply for the license of dog-friendly restaurant. The regime is a reversal of decades-old rules that barred dogs in restaurants.

Dogs in permitted restaurants must be kept on a leash not exceeding 1.5 metres, according to the new policy. The leash must be held by an adult or tied to a fixture.

“Known dangerous dogs,” which are classified by court orders, and fighting dogs, are prohibited from entering restaurants.