How are Hong Kong restaurants faring 1 month into the dog-friendly scheme?

One month into Hong Kong's dog-friendly restaurant scheme, businesses are experiencing varied results. Ken Chu, owner of Asura group's two pet-friendly restaurants, noted a 20% increase in business at his Kai Tak Sports Park location. The scheme, allowing dogs in nearly 1,000 establishments since July 9, has seen pet owners patronizing these venues more often due to frequent walks with their pets in the area.

Chu's outspoken support for the policy has attracted both praise and criticism, with some even making false complaints to authorities over hygiene and pest issues.

The policy's impact varies across restaurants. A survey by Petsona revealed that while 17 out of 19 surveyed outlets planned to continue the scheme, four were considering expanding pet-friendly areas. However, only three of the 10 restaurants reporting new customers noted a modest revenue lift, with five seeing little or no change in sales. Restaurants with existing customers who are pet-friendly often retained their licences regardless of revenue growth.

Despite the controversy, 65% of surveyed diners accepted dogs at other tables, with only 6.3% outright rejecting the scheme. Concerns included hygiene, noise, and safety. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department received 77 complaints related to the scheme and issued 77 verbal warnings by August 5. Additionally, 48 restaurants applied to revoke their licences, citing operational considerations such as staffing arrangements and spatial segregation.

Despite the challenges, establishments like Wan Land Mori reported a 30% increase in patronage by pet owners, with owners embracing the policy and maintaining a jovial atmosphere for all customers.