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Letters

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The 2025 policy address, proposing a trial scheme to allow pet dogs in eateries, marks a long-overdue shift, recognising a change in the city’s social fabric. Yet, while this move is positive, it is reactive rather than proactive, a concession, not a strategy.
If Hong Kong aims to fully harness the economic potential of its growing pet-owning population, it must move beyond sporadic permissions to a comprehensive, cross-departmental policy agenda aimed at unlocking the untapped spending power of pet owners. This is a latent market waiting to be served.
Hong Kong, despite having a dog population that runs into hundreds of thousands, lacks the ecosystem to fully cultivate the pet economy’s potential.
A pet owner’s journey to enjoy a simple meal out with their dog is fraught with logistical obstacles. First, they would have to find a licensed pet-friendly restaurant. If they lack a car, their transportation options are limited to the more costly options like Uber Pet, as mass public transport remains largely off-limits. Pet-friendly malls are few. Once pet owners arrive at them, they are likely to face mall by-laws, such as mandatory pet strollers, and restaurant-specific rules.
Transport is perhaps the most critical area for improvement. Many European cities allow dogs on subways and buses as passengers with limited restrictions, while closer to home, Taipei allows small and medium-sized dogs on the metro in secure carriers at any time, and larger dogs at specific times and stops. This model could serve as a reference for the MTR if and when it considers further relaxing its pet-friendly policies beyond the Light Rail system.
It is understandable that some people may have concerns such as allergies or cynophobia, but if Hong Kong wants to reap the benefits of a pet-friendly city, changes will have to be made.
This policy agenda has the potential to drive domestic spending and encourage landlords and restaurant operators to invest in pet-friendly renovations. However, there needs to be a coordinated set of policy changes that go beyond merely revising the Food Business Regulation. Efforts should aim to address the full spectrum of challenges faced by dog owners, from dining out to transportation and public access, ensuring solutions are both comprehensive and acceptable to non-dog owners.
It’s time to move past viewing pets as a logistical challenge and start embracing them as valuable contributors to a more vibrant, inclusive and prosperous Hong Kong.
Roy Ying, senior lecturer, Department of Marketing, Hang Seng University of Hong Kong
Bureaucracy deserves a shake-up
It was good to learn last month that the head of the Government Logistics Department started his pre-retirement leave as a task force reviews the water procurement scandal.
There are many in the system who are coasting along. Let me cite two examples.
In early 2022, I bought a property. Two years later, the Lands Department sent me a bill for unpaid rent dating back 10 years. I asked for the bill to be cancelled as the arrears predated my ownership. The official response was that rent attaches to a property and the current owner is responsible for it. It did not address why for the past decade the department had not gone after the previous owner.
The second example relates to the Office of the Ombudsman. I complained to them about a certain service provider several times. I always received the same automated response that they would look into the matter. No one bothered to call me to follow up.
It is good that the government is shaking up the bureaucracy.
Freddy Chua, Wan Chai
Museums must innovate to survive
I recently learned that Hong Kong government-run museums recorded a total deficit of about HK$500 million last year. One reason these 17 museums are running a deficit could be that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department lacks innovative ideas and marketing expertise.
For example, the Hong Kong Railway Museum could make good use of 3D-printing technology and allow visitors to build model trains and better connect with Hong Kong railway history. Rail enthusiasts could come away with unique model trains and such an immersive experience could create a good impression that international visitors might share with friends and family. For the museum, more visitors would mean more ticket sales and revenue.
Frank Lam, Tuen Mun


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Opinion

Readers discuss a proposed scheme to allow pet dogs in restaurants, increasing accountability in the bureaucracy, and museums in deficit


Readers discuss a proposed scheme to allow pet dogs in restaurants, increasing accountability in the bureaucracy, and museums in deficit.


.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Readers discuss a proposed scheme to allow pet dogs in restaurants, increasing accountability in the bureaucracy, and museums in deficit

Readers discuss a proposed scheme to allow pet dogs in restaurants, increasing accountability in the bureaucracy, and museums in deficit