Hong Kong minister defends dog-friendly restaurant policy amid backlash

Hong Kong's environment and ecology minister, Tse Chin-wan, has stated there are no plans to suspend the city's new policy that permits dogs in designated restaurants and cafes. The policy, which took effect on July 9, has faced online criticism following the circulation of photos and complaints about owners feeding their dogs with restaurant utensils and allowing them on dining tables.

While some netizens expressed hygiene concerns, others defended the policy, suggesting that those who dislike dogs can simply patronize establishments that do not opt for the dog-friendly permits. Minister Tse acknowledged that the reported incidents did occur but emphasized they are not a widespread issue. He expressed hope that through inspections and educational efforts, improper behavior will be curbed during this adjustment period.

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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.

The government is currently implementing the policy on a voluntary basis with a limited number of participating restaurants. Tse stated that both restaurants and customers have a choice, and therefore, there is no need to halt the policy. The government will monitor the situation and make improvements if necessary. So far, 11 restaurants have applied to withdraw from the scheme, while 940 have been granted licenses out of over 2,200 applications.

The policy revamps a decades-old rule that prohibited dogs from entering restaurants, with exceptions for hotpot and barbecue establishments. Under the new regulations, dogs in permitted venues must be leashed and cannot be "known dangerous dogs" or fighting dogs. The minister added that the government will not impose additional requirements on restaurants regarding venue size or type, leaving such considerations to the establishments themselves when applying for permits.

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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.