Hong Kong authorities and restaurants have said the implementation of a new dog-friendly scheme has been largely “smooth”, as the government ramps up inspections in the first month of the policy allowing dogs into restaurants for the first time in decades.
Albert Yuendirector of food and environmental hygiene, said on Monday that restaurants and dog lovers have been “rational and co-operative” about hygiene and area arrangements in the first four days of the new scheme.
Speaking on a radio program, Yuen said a 90-member task force of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has carried out approximately 2,300 inspections since last Thursday and found that most restaurants followed the rules.
Authorities received about 20 complaints, mostly about minor irregularities such as the length of dog leashes and the positions of dog seats inside restaurants, he said.
Officers issued verbal warnings, he said, adding that authorities would prioritize caution over enforcement during the first month of the policy, which Yuen called an “adjustment period.”
“The government is promoting self-discipline and mutual respect among the three parties: restaurants, dog owners and residents. This policy is in a one-month adjustment period and we will first exercise caution before using enforcement measures,” he said in Cantonese.
“But this does not mean that we will relax our regulations and immediately apply the law if the irregularities are serious and involve hygiene or food safety,” he added.
Increase in customers
Cathy Chu, who runs Wan Land Cafe in Tai Kok Tsui and Wan Land Mori Cafe in Kowloon City with her husband, told HKFP that there was an increase in new customers over the weekend and that the ratio between those with dogs and those without a furry friend was roughly 50:50.
She expects business to grow by five to 10 percent thanks to the new policy.
Implementation of the new scheme has been smooth and the rules are clearly defined, she said, but added that customers may need time to familiarize themselves with the policy.
“The policy has clear guidelines and helps customers share with different preferences,” she said in Cantonese. “If you don’t like dogs, then (our cafes) might not be for you.”
“But we’ve always emphasized that … there are a lot of people who don’t mind sharing a space with dogs,” she said. “With this clear policy, I think it really helps society promote pet-friendliness.”
