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- The first phase will be rolled out on a small scale to allow the public to adapt gradually.
- Participation is voluntary. Restaurants that obtain permission must display designated signage at their entrances at all times.
- The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will introduce additional licensing conditions and provide operational guidelines.
In a move to promote a more pet-friendly society, the HKSAR Government has proposed legislative amendments that would allow dogs to enter permitted food premises.
The implementation plan of the new initiative is built around four key principles:
1. Choice for both restaurant operators and customers
Restaurant operators may choose whether to apply for permission to admit dogs. Once approved, the restaurant must display designated signage prominently at the entrance at all times to help customers make informed decisions.
2. Prioritising safety and hygiene
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will introduce legislative amendments and impose the necessary additional licensing conditions to ensure public safety, animal welfare, food safety, and environmental hygiene. Restaurants will retain appropriate flexibility to devise suitable operational arrangements and house rules based on their actual circumstances.
3. Minimising compliance costs for the trade
The additional licensing conditions will not result in any significant increase in compliance costs. Permission will be granted through an endorsement added to existing food business licences, streamlining both application procedures and reduce fees.
4. Gradual and prudent rollout
Given the varying level of public acceptance of pets, the first phase will be implemented on a relatively small scale and in a prudent manner to allow the society to adapt gradually. Subject to smooth implementation, applications for the second phase may open around half-a-year after the launch of the first at the earliest.
FEHD will compile a set of Guidelines on Good Practices and Behaviour for both restaurant operators and customers bringing dogs, providing operators with a reference for drawing up their own operational arrangements and house rules.
In the first phase, the Government proposes a quota of 500 to 1,000 restaurants – about 3% to 5% of all restaurants in Hong Kong. For safety concerns, applications from hotpot restaurants and barbecue restaurants (including teppanyaki and Korean barbeque establishments, etc.) will not be accepted. All other restaurants with a full licence may apply.
To keep the system fair and simple, no priority will be given to any applicant. FEHD will provide electronic applications. If applications exceed the quota, selection will be determined by lot drawing, with results announced simultaneously.
Successful applicants must pay a HK$140 fee within a specified period to add a dog-admission endorsement to their food business licence. Failure to pay within the deadline will be considered a withdrawal, and the quota will be reassigned to other applicants according to the lot drawing results.
Restaurants may subsequently cancel the endorsement if needed. Once the endorsement is removed, the dog-admission signage must be taken down immediately.
A restaurant’s dog-admission permission may be revoked for repeated breach of the dogs-related licensing conditions. While this generally does not affect the underlying food business licence, the restaurant will be barred from reapplying for dog admission permission for one year.
FEHD submitted a discussion paper to the Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene of the Legislative Council (LegCo) on 3 February 2026. The proposed amendments to the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X) are expected to be introduced to the LegCo in the first quarter of 2026. Subject to approval, the first batch of permissions is anticipated to be granted by mid-2026.
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