At present, the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X) prohibits dogs on food premises, except for guide dogs or dogs in connection with the exercise of a lawful power. In light of changing social environment, the Government has reviewed a range of factors, including public health protection, public acceptability, market demand and the industry's views, etc., and considers that conditions are now suitable to allow dogs to enter food premises under appropriate regulation. The Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address to allow restaurant operators to apply for permission to allow customers to bring dogs into their food premises. This new initiative responds to the aspirations of many members of the public, helps promote harmony between people and pets and will create new business opportunities for the catering industry.
The new initiative is formulated based on the following principles:
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Providing choice: Restaurant operators may choose whether to apply for the dog-admission permission while members of the public may choose whether to patronise such restaurants. Restaurants with a dog-admission permission granted by Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (DFEH) will be required to display, at all times and at a conspicuous place at the entrance, designated signages so that public can make an informed choice;
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Priority to safety and environmental hygiene: the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (“FEHD”) will accord priority to safeguarding the safety of people and animals, as well as ensuring food safety and environmental hygiene. The department will take forward legislative amendments and impose necessary additional licence conditions for this purpose. At the same time, appropriate flexibility will be allowed in other aspects for restaurant operators to devise suitable operational arrangements having regard to actual circumstances;
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Minimising compliance costs for the trade: The statutory requirements and new additional licence conditions will not result in any significant increase in compliance costs. The dog-admission permission granted by DFEH will be added into existing licences so that restaurants need not apply for a new licence, thereby simplifying procedures and reducing fees; and
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Taking small steps for prudent implementation: As the degree of public acceptance towards dogs in restaurants varies, the First Phase will be implemented on a relatively small scale and in a prudent manner, so as to allow society to adapt gradually. Subject to smooth implementation, it is anticipated that applications for the next phase could, at the earliest, be invited about half a year after the launch of the First Phase.
We propose to regulate through legislative amendments and imposition of necessary additional licensing requirements and/or conditions. This will be supplemented by a set of Guidelines on Good Practices and Behaviour ("the Guidelines") to be compiled by FEHD for reference by restaurant operators and customers bringing dogs. Restaurant operators may, with reference to the Guidelines, draw up their own operational arrangements and house rules having regard to actual circumstances.
The Government published in the Gazette on March 13 the Food Business (Amendment) Regulation 2026, which will be tabled at the Legislative Council on March 18 for vetting. The Government proposes to amend the Food Business Regulation (Cap 132X) to empower DFEH to grant permission for dogs to enter and stay on food premises, subject to the compliance with certain statutory requirements.
Subject to the Regulation being passed by the Legislative Council, we will announce in due course the detailed application arrangements for restaurants. It is expected that the first batch of permission will be granted by mid-2026.
The Brief relating to the Amendment Regulation submitted to the Legislative Council is available at:
https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr2026/english/brief/eeb20260311_20260311-e.pdf
The Gazette relating to the Amendment Regulation is available at:
https://egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=es2&year=2026&volume=30&gno=11¬ice_no=21&extra=0