Hong Kong restaurants will be able to apply for licences from May 18 to allow dogs under a new scheme, with the first designated venues expected to admit pets from July.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said on Thursday that applications would open on May 18 and close on June 8.
In the first phase, applications will be capped at 1,000 restaurants. If the number exceeds the quota, places will be allocated by ballot.
Restaurants larger than 20 square metres (215 square feet) are eligible to apply, the department said.
For safety reasons, applications from hotpot, teppanyaki and barbecue restaurants, including Korean, will not be accepted.
Successful applicants will be able to add a dog-admission endorsement to their food business licence for a fee of HK$140 (US$18).
Dogs must be kept on leads no longer than 1.5 metres and under the control of an adult. Dangerous breeds are prohibited.
Breaches could result in fines of up to HK$10,000, daily penalties or imprisonment.
The change follows the passage of the Food Business (Amendment) Regulation 2026, which takes effect on Friday.
It ends a blanket ban on dogs in food premises imposed in 1994 amid rabies concerns. Officials said the scheme would be introduced gradually, with only about 3 to 5 per cent of Hong Kong’s 17,000 restaurants included initially, ensuring diners who prefer not to eat near dogs still have options.
Hong Kong’s pet economy has grown rapidly, with more than 240,000 households keeping over 400,000 cats and dogs.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu highlighted the sector’s potential in his policy address last year, saying the new rules would support demand for pet-friendly services.
The department will publish a list of approved restaurants next month, pending confirmation of an effective date in July.