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 will create new business opportunities for the industry.
The implementation plan of the new initiative has been formulated on the basis of the following principles:
- Allowing both restaurant operators and customers to have a choice: Restaurant operators may choose whether to apply for permission to let dogs enter their food premises. Once the permission is granted, designated signage must be displayed prominently at the entrance of the food premises at all times so that customers to make an informed choice;
- According priority to the safety of people and animals, food safety, and environmental hygiene: The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will take forward legislative amendments and impose the necessary additional licensing conditions for this purpose. In other aspects, restaurant operators will have appropriate flexibility to devise suitable operational arrangements and house rules having regard to actual circumstances;
- Minimising compliance costs for the trade: The additional licensing conditions will not result in any significant increase in compliance costs. In addition, the permission will be granted by adding an endorsement to the existing food business licences so as to streamline application procedures and reduce fees; and
- Taking small steps forward in a prudent manner: Given the varying level of public acceptance of pets, the first phase will be implemented on a relatively small scale and in a prudent manner to allow the society to adapt gradually . Subject to smooth implementation, it is anticipated that application for the second phase could be accepted about half a year after the launch of the first phase at the earliest.
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.
We plan to introduce the proposed amendments to Cap. 132X into the Legislative Council (LegCo) in the first quarter of this year. Subject to the passage of the amendments by the LegCo, it is expected that the first batch of permission will be granted by mid-2026.
We have submitted a discussion paper to the Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene of the Legislative Council on February 3, 2026. The relevant discussion paper can be found on the following webpage of the Legislative Council Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene: https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr2026/english/panels/fseh/papers/fseh260210cb2-162-2-e.pdf