Hong Kong restaurants prepare to welcome pet dogs

Dog lovers in Hong Kong will be able to dine out with their pups soon, as the city prepares to issue the first batch of up to 1,000 licenses to eateries, allowing them to legally welcome pet dogs.

Some restaurant owners are keen to sign up as they anticipate that allowing dogs will boost business.

Dogs are generally barred from the indoor areas of restaurants.

But things are changing -- the government is giving the green light for dogs to be allowed in eateries, except for venues serving barbecue and hotpot due to safety concerns.

In the initial rollout, the scheme will start with a quota of 500 to 1,000 restaurants which is around three to five percent of all eateries in Hong Kong.

If the demand is overwhelming, licenses will be decided by drawing lots.

Successful applicants will have to pay 140 dollars for a permit and placed the signage at the entrance.

In Sai Kung, some restaurant operators are eager to apply, as a move to capitalise on the growing pet economy.

"The people get annoyed, they felt sad, we're not welcoming enough pets," said restaurant staff Jot. "So people, few people, few of our regulars, few people just stopped coming. So yeah, in that way it did affect the business.

(How many percent?) I think 20 to 30.

Under the government regulations, dogs must be kept on a leash no longer than 1.5 metres, that is roughly the distance between two dining tables in this restaurant.

Restaurant owner Susanta Datta said: "Pets have to be more clean, hygienic and of course friendly as well. Because they don't want to get fighting each other. Noise problem for the people who is enjoying their dinner.

"Maybe someone having a romantic dinner, but if your pets is very noisy they couldn't enjoy the dinner and will break the restaurant image. In that case we have to be still careful to bring the pet inside depends what kind of pets we are looking for."

The proposal states "known dangerous dogs" and "fighting dogs" are prohibited in food premises.

What do patrons think?

One man hopes a clear boundary could be set to keep pets and people separate.

"At the end of the day, you have to spare a thought for people

who are afraid of animals," he said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Lee believes it is the pet owners' responsibility to keep their dogs under effective control and do clean up after them, just as they do on the streets.

She said she would never sit a big dog right next to a small one as she is aware dogs can be unpredictable.