The 2025 Policy Address proposed pet-friendly measures, including allowing catering operators to apply for licenses permitting dogs in their premises. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said at the Legislative Council (LegCo) yesterday (Jan. 29) that the SAR government aims to approve the first round of applications by mid-year.
Tse stated that one of the key tasks moving forward is to implement the pet-friendly measures proposed in the Policy Address, allowing operators to apply for licenses permitting dogs in restaurants.
"Our goal is to approve the first round of applications by mid-year, officially lifting the ban that has been in place for over 30 years."
He added that the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, in collaboration with other government departments, will also adopt a new model in the first half of the year to expedite the approval process for applications regarding outdoor seating in restaurants.
In the future, restaurants will be able to apply for licenses permitting dogs on their premises. Currently, cats can enter restaurants without an additional license—only a standard restaurant license is needed.
The operation of the cat café "QRF" in Mong Kok can serve as a reference for restaurants planning to allow dogs in the future. The owner of the café, Mr. Chan, shared that when the shop opened in June 2024, it only offered food services. However, due to the emotional stress caused by long working hours, he began bringing his cats to the shop in rotation early last year to keep him company. Surprisingly, customers showed overwhelmingly positive feedback. Currently, the shop has 13 resident cats, and since their introduction, turnover has increased by about 20%. His interactions with customers have also grown.
"These cats became a topic of conversation... everyone chats like friends, and I feel happier at work," he said.
He noted that apart from the resident cats, some customers also bring their own pets, including cats and flying squirrels. Most pet owners are self-disciplined and know how to care for their pets in the restaurant. If customers wish to touch someone else's pet, staff will proactively remind them not to do so without permission.
Approximately half of the café's customers are passersby, while the other half visit specifically for the pets. Young people, in particular, show a preference for such pet-friendly restaurants. During lunch hours, customers are mostly students and young professionals, while the evening crowd consists mainly of middle-aged, middle-class patrons. Overall, residents have shown high acceptance and generally positive reactions toward cats.
Regarding food hygiene concerns, Mr. Chan said that since introducing cats, only one or two customers have expressed worries, such as concerns about pet hair floating into food. However, no formal complaints have been received.
During inspections, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department reminded the shop to prohibit pets from entering food preparation areas. In response, the shop fully enclosed the food preparation area, added barriers to prevent hair from entering, separated food handling from dining spaces, and installed air purifiers to absorb odors and hair. Additionally, cleaning frequency was increased by one or two times daily. All renovation expenses were kept under HK$10,000, and the equipment does not require frequent replacement, making it a sustainable operational expense.
He added that when hiring staff, priority is given to individuals who love animals.
"Some people specifically come to work here because they love cats," he said.
Miss Lee, a customer at the cat café, remarked, "When visiting a place with pets, I'm already prepared to encounter cat hair." She does not mind cats jumping onto tables and can even accept dog barking and other pets, provided "they are properly managed."
However, she would still find it unacceptable if pet owners let their pets run around freely or steal food from others. She emphasized that owners have a responsibility to supervise their pets, which is "fundamental" to ensuring a positive experience for other customers.
Many non-pet owners also expressed support for pet-friendly restaurants. Miss Wong admitted that she loves cats but cannot keep one due to practical constraints, but the cats in the restaurant "fill this void for her."
Regarding allowing dogs in restaurants, she believes she would welcome it as long as the dogs are not too large and have a gentle temperament. She is not overly concerned about issues like barking, noting that most pet dogs she has encountered are well-behaved, and her personal acceptance level is quite high.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Li Qianxun, Liu Ming)
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