Hong Kong’s initiative to promote dog-friendly restaurants has ignited a heated online debate over public hygiene and pet behaviour. Additionally, a cafe chain decided to withdraw from the programme just one day after it was launched.
While more than 940 restaurants opened their doors to owners and their dogs on Thursday, clips showing pets licking plates and sitting on dining tables and chairs have gone viral online. But other internet users also argued that many canine diners had been well-behaved.
The debate raged as a branch of Cafe 100%, located in Ma On Shan’s Kam Ying Court Shopping Centre, posted a notice outside its premises on Friday saying it had opted out of the policy.
A staff member said the cafe had withdrawn over safety concerns for the animals.
“Our space is very tight, and staff are constantly carrying boiling water around, so we are concerned that dogs could easily get hurt,” she said, stressing that the decision was not the result of any complaints.
A check by the South China Morning Post on the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s website found that nine other Cafe 100% branches were still permitted to welcome dogs.
Some branches have imposed limitations, such as only allowing up to three pets inside at any given time and charging a HK$100 (US$12.75) cleaning fee for dog waste.
In a social media post on Saturday, the chain’s parent company, Taste of Asia, said it fully supported the government initiative but needed to make “adjustments” during the policy’s initial roll-out.
“Following a continuous review of its operations two days into the implementation, the group decided to apply to withdraw the permit for specific branches,” it said.
“Allowing dog entry could compromise the dining experience of other customers and the order and safety of the restaurants due to constraints about shop capacity, seating layouts, customer flow and crowdedness.”
The company stressed that the adjustment was not due to any failure to meet the government requirements, nor did it signify a U-turn on its pet-friendly direction.
The decision was based on an assessment of each branch’s unique environment and operational conditions, it said.
Lawmaker Chan Hoi-yan, who chairs the Legislative Council’s food safety and environmental hygiene panel, said that while the quick withdrawal created poor optics, it was not inherently bad.
“The policy intends to enable restaurants that already had the right conditions to tap into the pet economy, but not forcing all restaurants to accept dogs,” she said
“If you don’t have what it takes to handle pets safely, it is a responsible move to quit on your own instead of carrying on stubbornly and hogging the licence.”
Restaurants should carefully evaluate their marketing strategies and target customer base before blindly applying for the permits, on the assumption that it would boost business, she said.
Chan also urged authorities to step up efforts to educate pet owners, as the law already barred dogs from going on tables or using human tableware.
To defuse the societal tension, Chan said she felt both sides needed to “take a step back”, reminding dog owners to obey the law and critics that they could easily opt for any of the remaining 90 per cent of restaurants without the permits.
Chan also said she hoped that authorities could monitor public sentiment and regularly review the rules, tightening or relaxing them as needed.
Gigi Fu Ming-hin, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Hong Kong, advised owners on social media to ensure their dogs had relieved themselves before entering restaurants and to allow time for animals to acclimatise.
“If they are still anxious, take them outside to calm down before trying again,” she said. “Step outside again if conflict arises with other dogs.”
She added that dogs should always be kept on a leash no longer than 1.5 metres (4.92 feet) and never be allowed to touch tables.
