HONG KONG (AP) — Dog owners in Hong Kong are celebrating a long-awaited change that lets them bring their pets along when they go out to eat. The city has lifted a restriction that had been on the books since 1994, which limited restaurant access to only guide dogs and animals performing official duties.
The new policy, designed to foster a more pet-friendly culture, took effect Thursday and covers more than 900 restaurants participating in the first phase of the rollout.
This is one of several recent moves Hong Kong has made toward becoming more animal-inclusive. The city now permits pets on select ferry routes and certain metro train lines that serve rural areas, and public hospitals have begun allowing animals to visit patients receiving end-of-life care.
City officials report that more than 240,000 households — roughly 9% of all homes in Hong Kong — have at least one pet cat or dog, with the total number of pets exceeding 400,000.
At Wan Land Cafe, owner Kelvin Chan posted a sign letting customers know dogs are now welcome inside. Before the rule change, dogs could only be in the outdoor seating area, which posed problems during Hong Kong’s sweltering summer months.
Chan doesn’t expect the policy to dramatically increase his business, but as a dog owner himself, he sees it as an opportunity to shift attitudes. He acknowledged that while pet lovers are enthusiastic about the change, people who aren’t accustomed to dining near dogs may need some time to adjust.
He believes that well-behaved pets and responsible owners will gradually help those who are less comfortable with animals come around to the idea.
