Historic Policy Shift Welcomes Dogs into Dining Establishments
The Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced on June 12 that dogs will be permitted to enter selected food premises starting July 9, 2026, marking a major policy shift for the city's dining culture. Following a public ballot that drew 2,205 applications, 1,000 restaurants across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories have been allocated quotas to accommodate canine customers.
The open balloting was officiated by Legislative Council member Ms Chan Hoi-yan, Chairwoman of the Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene. During the process, five randomly generated sequences were produced by computer using the licence numbers of all applying food premises, after which Ms Chan manually selected one sequence to determine the final allocations. The first 1,000 applications in the drawn sequence were deemed successful, while remaining applicants have been placed on a waiting list.
FEHD officials will visit successful restaurants on June 16 and 17 to deliver approval letters and brief operators on statutory requirements, licence conditions, and compliance arrangements. Successful applicants must pay a HK$140 fee by June 24 to amend their licences. Those who fail to complete the process within the specified period will forfeit their eligibility, with vacancies filled by applicants on the waiting list in sequential order.
Approved premises will receive designated A3-sized signage to be displayed conspicuously at main entrances from July 9 onward, enabling diners to easily identify dog-friendly establishments. The FEHD will also publish the names and addresses of permitted restaurants on a dedicated webpage later this month, along with any customer guidelines provided by individual premises.
The department advised permitted food premises to make thorough preparations, including planning dedicated dining areas, installing necessary facilities, training staff in pet-friendly service protocols, and contacting insurance providers regarding coverage. FEHD emphasised that cooperation between customers bringing dogs and other patrons is essential to the programme's success.
Earlier this year, the FEHD released comprehensive Guidelines on Good Practices and Behaviour covering responsibilities for restaurant operators, customers with dogs, and those without. The guidelines aim to promote mutual respect and pet inclusivity across Hong Kong's food service industry.
Following the balloting, the FEHD eliminated duplicate, self-withdrawn, and ineligible applications — including those from premises without valid restaurant licences and those operating predominantly as hotpot or barbecue restaurants — leaving 1,616 qualifying applications for the final draw.
A multi-platform publicity campaign will accompany the July 9 launch, including television and radio announcements in the public interest, as well as advertisements at bus stops, MTR stations, and on government building exteriors. A promotional video was premiered on the FEHD's Facebook page at 5pm on June 12.
This initiative positions Hong Kong alongside other global cities that have embraced pet-friendly dining, balancing consumer demand with public health and hygiene standards through a structured regulatory framework.
Sources: HKSAR Government
