Members may wish to note that the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (“FEHD”)’s new arrangement permitting dogs to enter approved licensed food premises will take effect on 9 July 2026.

According to the information released earlier, the breakdown of the 1,000 selected food premises is as follows:

Breakdown by Region

Breakdown by Restaurant Category

The arrangement reflects market demand for more pet-friendly dining options and may create new service opportunities for both the food and beverage and hotel sectors. For hotels with licensed food and beverage outlets, members may wish to carefully assess the operational and customer-service implications before implementation, including dining area planning, customer notices, staff training, hygiene arrangements, insurance coverage, and coordination with other hotel facilities or common areas.

Members may also wish to note that, as the arrangement is rolled out, some policy and operational clarification may still be needed to avoid misunderstandings or arrangements that may inadvertently fall outside the current regulatory framework. Members are therefore encouraged to exercise caution in implementation.

Industry Engagement and Knowledge Sharing

As implementation proceeds, members are welcome to share with us any operational challenges, customer handling issues, or good practices arising from this new arrangement. We would be pleased to consolidate members’ experience and engage with the Government, where appropriate, to support knowledge sharing, practical implementation, policy clarification where needed, and positive public communication for the industry.

As a latest update, 833 premises have completed the relevant procedures and may admit dogs starting from 9 July 2026.  Members may also find it useful to refer to the materials available on FEHD’s dedicated webpage, including the list of approved premises, good operational and behavioural guidelines, frequently asked questions, and other practical guidance / code of practice materials relating to the new arrangement. https://www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/dog_restaurants/index.html