Dog-friendly dining lifts some Hong Kong restaurant trade
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A month after Hong Kong's dog-friendly dining scheme began on July 9, some restaurants say it has already increased footfall from pet owners, especially in areas with regular dog walkers. Operators are also dealing with stricter cleaning routines, customer separation measures and complaints linked to opposition to the policy.
Key Points
- Restaurateur Ken Chu Ka-chun said one of his restaurants at Kai Tak Sports Park recorded a 20 per cent rise in business over the past month under the scheme.
- The government scheme has allowed dogs into nearly 1,000 licensed Hong Kong establishments since July 9, with more than 900 restaurants navigating the first month of operations.
- Chu, owner of Asura group, said his pet-friendly outlets use separate seating for diners with dogs, clean thoroughly after each round and monitor closely for rule breaches.
- Chu said critics of the policy targeted his restaurant online, and that an anonymous complaint alleged bad smells, cockroaches and a bug in food.
- He argued false hygiene reports from people opposed to pets waste inspectors' time and suggested complaints should require real-name verification or photo evidence.
Why It Matters
The first month suggests the scheme can create new business for restaurants in pet-heavy districts, but only if operators can manage hygiene, seating and staff workload carefully. The disputes and complaint pressure also point to likely calls for clearer enforcement and complaint-handling rules as the policy expands.