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Hong Kong society
Opinion
SCMP Editorial
SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Furry friends in restaurants a big step towards a pet-friendly Hong Kong

The relaxation of public transport and dining rules acknowledges the social value of pets in a crowded city like Hong Kong

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A woman walks with her dog outside a restaurant in New Town Plaza in Hong Kong’s Sha Tin district on February 3. Photo: Sam Tsang
SCMP Editorial
The old saying “it’s a dog’s life” has come to mean pampering and luxury rather than misery. In those terms, the coming Year of the Horse is shaping up to be a memorable one for Hong Kong dogs and their owners. On March 1, for the first time, up to 1,200 dogs will be able to travel on most trains and some buses with their owners as part of a fundraising drive organised by the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a breakthrough that should lead to further lifting of restrictions in the future.
That is just an appetiser for the groundbreaking debut as soon as June of a pet-friendly restaurant scheme for dogs, foreshadowed in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address. Initially, the authorities will license up to 1,000 restaurants to welcome dogs. Under proposed amendments to regulations prohibiting dogs on food premises, the Environment and Ecology Bureau says the first batch of restaurants – up to 5 per cent of the city’s total – can apply for permits by May, allowing dogs into restaurants by June. A spokesman said the scheme would be introduced “step by step” as Hong Kong shifted towards a more pet-friendly society.

The relaxation of public transport and dining rules is a welcome sign that attitudes to pets are changing for the better. The many restrictions on them reflect Hong Kong’s small flats and crowded streets. Despite this, the number of pets in the city has soared. Official statistics reveal some 240,000 households own more than 400,000 cats and dogs. Lee has highlighted the potential economic benefits through the “enormous” consumption market in pet products.

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While we recognise the positive role of pet companionship in a crowded urban environment, the new guidelines must also reflect the reality that not everyone is comfortable with animals around their table. Hence the importance of rules aimed at respect for all diners, including the requirement that dogs must be kept on a short leash and be securely held by an adult or tied to a fixture.

With the cooperation of restaurant operators and customers, the pet-friendly restaurant scheme promises to boost business for restaurants and add a heart-warming dimension to the bond between owners and pets.

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