Background
At present, the Food Business Regulation prohibits the presence of dogs, in general, on food premises. Section 10B provides that no person shall bring any dog onto a food premises, and no person engaged in a food business shall knowingly suffer or permit the presence of any dog on his/her food premises, except for guide dogs or dogs in connection with the exercise of a lawful power. Contravention of the above is liable to maximum penalty of a fine at level 3 ($10,000), imprisonment of three months and a daily fine of $300.
In light of changing social trends, the Government has reviewed a range of factors, including public health protection, level of social acceptance, market demand and views of the trade, and considers that there are now favourable conditions for allowing dogs to enter food premises under appropriate regulation. The Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address that restaurant operators may apply for permission to allow dogs to enter their food premises (“dog-admission permission”). 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:
- 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;
- 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;
- 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
- 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.
Legislative Amendments
Food Business (Amendment) Regulation 2026 was gazetted on March 13 and officially came into effect on May 8. The relevant Gazette notice is available below for viewing.
For amendments to the Food Business Regulation relating to the permission for dogs to be present on food premises, please refer to the document below.
For the full text of the Food Business Regulation, please refer to the link of Hong Kong e-Legislation .