Hong Kong lifts restaurant dog ban after decades-long restriction

Hong Kong restaurants began admitting dogs again after a decades-long ban, with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department allowing permitted food premises to take dogs from July 9 under a new licensing scheme. The change ended a 1994 restriction that had barred dogs from restaurants except guide dogs and dogs performing statutory duties, pushing floor staff and managers into a new round of entry checks, seating decisions and customer handling.

John Lee Ka-chiu’s administration said in the Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address that more than 240,000 households in Hong Kong kept more than 400,000 cats and dogs as pets, a market that spans pet food, healthcare, insurance, grooming and training. The address said the government would introduce a licensing arrangement allowing dogs into food premises.

The first permits were awarded through an open ballot. The FEHD received 2,205 applications between May 18 and June 8 and allocated 1,000 quotas for restaurants. Government releases put the initial phase at more than 940 approved or permitted food premises when the scheme took effect.

For restaurant operators, the policy was as much about revenue as regulation. Some businesses expected about a 20 percent boost after securing dog-friendly licences, and the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades held discussions with the FEHD on licensing matters and pet-friendly initiatives. That business upside came with a practical burden for managers and staff on the floor, who now have to control access and keep order around tables.

The rollout also stirred opposition. Complaints and online backlash surfaced soon after the policy took effect. The FEHD’s permission letter left restaurant crews to enforce the rule during service.