Hong Kong resident Joe Lam was finally able to sit with his poodle Glutinous Rice inside an air-conditioned cafe on Thursday after the city allowed dogs into restaurants for the first time in decades.
“Usually we sit outside, but I just found out we can bring the dog today, so we were happy because at least it won’t be so hot,” Lam, a 62-year-old retiree, told AFP.
A staff member instructed Lam and his wife to park the cart carrying the 15-year-old dog near a designated table as authorities implement the new policy aimed at helping the city’s struggling dining sector boost business.
Since 1994, only service dogs and police dogs have been allowed inside food premises, but dog owners are allowed to sit outside with their pets in establishments with outdoor areas.
The law was changed this year, partly in response to public demand, after chief executive John Lee called for promoting a “pet-friendly culture” to cash in on a growing pet market.
“I think it’s great. It will give dog owners more choices,” said Lam, who refers to Glutinous Rice as his “second son.”
After the couple finished their afternoon tea and left, a member of staff disinfected their table and seats, as well as those near the group.
More than 900 restaurants are included in the first phase of the pet-friendly scheme, with hotpot and barbecue restaurants not eligible for a license for safety reasons.
Hong Kong, a city of about 7.5 million people, is also home to more than 400,000 cats and dogs, according to government figures.
Not everyone supports the new scheme.
An elderly man, who declined to give his name, told AFP he did not want to dine near the dogs for fear they would urinate on the floor.
“It will pollute the country,” he said.
‘Help the Industry’
AFP reporters saw officials from the Department of Food and Environmental Hygiene carrying out inspections to check compliance – including prominently displayed signs informing customers that dogs were now welcome on the premises.
Dogs must be leashed at all times and must not be allowed on dining tables or in rooms where food is prepared.
Operators must thoroughly clean and disinfect the area if dogs defecate in the restaurant.
Violators face fines of up to HK$10,000 (US$1,275) and up to three months in prison.
Restaurant owner Vanshika Sharma hopes the new policy will bring in more customers and revive the food service industry, which has struggled to return to pre-pandemic levels.
“Overall, it should help the industry to flourish,” Sharma told AFP, hoping for more customers on weekends, when many residents head to the Chinese city of Shenzhen for better deals.
Her restaurant, Harbourview Grill, has a patio space that has long welcomed dogs.
It is located in a mall that has recently started marketing its pet-friendly features, which Sharma said has resulted in increased footfall.
“We’ve already seen a lot of pet customers wanting to sit inside,” she said, adding that she expected business to grow by 20 to 25 percent.
In the dining room, pet owner Anny Li told AFP that “the dogs are very happy because they love air-conditioned places.”
Her two-year-old corgi, Nam Chai, was immediately shut down and bribed with pets and treats when he barked in excitement.
Other than that, the dog remained calm, lying under the table with his two brothers even as Sharma brought out a plate of pork chops.
“They were very nice and not loud,” Li said, giving the dog restaurant’s ethics a nine out of 10.
