Hong Kong is aiming to approve its first batch of dog-friendly restaurant permits by mid-2026, as the government prepares a new system for venues that want to let dogs enter.
At the moment dogs are generally not allowed inside licensed “food premises” in Hong Kong, under section 10B of the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X), with an exception for guide dogs. Dogs are still seen at some venues, typically in outdoor seating areas or where rules are loosely enforced, or at outlets that look like restaurants but are licensed differently. The planned permit scheme would allow a clear legal framework for selected restaurants to admit dogs.
The plan was first outlined in October 2025, when officials said restaurants would need to meet hygiene requirements, put up clear notices for customers, and that the government would consult the trade and review the scheme after launch.
On January 29, 2026, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-Wan said the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) expects to grant permission to an initial group of applicants by the middle of the year.
The plan follows renewed attention on pet-related business opportunities in the city. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has previously pointed to more than 240,000 households keeping over 400,000 cats and dogs in the city. Separately, a 2025 Legislative Council research brief noted Hong Kong’s pet dog and cat numbers were about 304,000 and 280,000 in 2023.
For diners and operators, the next steps will be the final permit conditions, how enforcement works in practice, and how many restaurants join the first batch once applications open.
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