FEHD holds first briefing for trade on allowing dogs to enter permitted food premises
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will start accepting applications from restaurants on May 18 for allowing dogs to enter their premises. It is expected that the permitted food premises could welcome their customers with dogs within July. The FEHD held the first briefing for the trade today (May 11), providing in-depth explanations of the new policy and relevant arrangements for allowing dogs in permitted restaurants. More than 150 members from the catering sector attended, the first briefing received an enthusiastic response.
The briefing aims to explain to the catering trade the regulatory framework and application arrangements for allowing dogs in permitted restaurants. The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Mr Donald Ng, and the Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (Environmental Hygiene), Mr Arsene Yiu, answered questions from attendees during the question-and-answer session.
At the briefing, representatives of the FEHD set out relevant application procedures, eligibility criteria, licensing conditions and matters that require restaurant operators' attention. In addition, representatives of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Institute of Shopping Centre Management, and the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers, were invited to share with trade members knowledge on interacting with animals, experience in managing pet-friendly malls and matters requiring attention in relation to insurance.
A spokesman for the FEHD said, "We expect to help the catering trade to understand the application requirements through the briefing, and to get prepared for the upcoming implementation of the new measures in advance."
The spokesman reminded that, except for guide dogs and working dogs, restaurants must first apply to the FEHD and obtain permission before allowing dogs to enter their premises.
The FEHD will hold three other briefing sessions for the trade tomorrow (May 12) and on May 13 and 28. Restaurant operators who are unable to attend in person and other interested parties may watch the live broadcast via the FEHD's Facebook page from 2.30pm to 5pm on the days of the briefing sessions, which will later be uploaded to the FEHD's dedicated webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/dog_restaurants/index.html).
Information including licence conditions and frequently asked questions has been uploaded to the FEHD's dedicated webpage today. After gauging the views of trade members, the FEHD will release a set of Guidelines of Good Practice and Behaviour later for reference by restaurant operators and members of the public. The FEHD has set up two dedicated hotlines (2867 5912 and 2867 2836), through which enquiries about the applications can be made from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
FEHD holds first briefing for trade on allowing dogs to enter permitted food premises Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD holds first briefing for trade on allowing dogs to enter permitted food premises Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health attends International Healthcare Week highlighting Hong Kong's role as "super connector"
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, today (May 11) attended the Hospital Authority (HA) Convention 2026 and the Asia Summit on Global Health, marking the start of the annual healthcare flagship event International Healthcare Week. He also took the opportunity to meet with multiple high-level healthcare official delegations from the Mainland who came to Hong Kong to participate in the event and jointly explore co-operation in the area of healthcare.
Professor Lo said, "The HA Convention and the Asia Summit on Global Health are two major international events in the healthcare field. By gathering experts, scholars, and industry leaders in the medical and healthcare field from the Mainland and overseas in Hong Kong for in-depth exchanges, these two events not only highlight Hong Kong's international advantages in healthcare, but also fully demonstrate its vital role as a 'super connector' linking the Mainland and the world under the 'one country, two systems' principle."
Professor Lo emphasised that Hong Kong will proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan by deepening reform of the healthcare system and continuously promoting the co-ordinated development of healthcare services, drugs and healthcare protection, thereby resonating in tandem with the nation's medical reform. At the same time, Hong Kong will also seize the opportunity to develop into an international health and medical innovation hub and move at full speed to align with the policies of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, with a view to building a "Healthy Hong Kong" while better integrating into and serving national development through leveraging the city's distinctive advantages of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world.
In the morning, Professor Lo met with Deputy Director-General of the Health Commission of Guangdong Province Mr Deng Linfeng and his delegation to explore the facilitation of healthcare talent exchanges between the two places, and to exchange views on healthcare collaborative projects such as the direct cross-boundary ambulance transfer arrangement.
Professor Lo said, "These initiatives will deepen healthcare integration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and duly address the expectations of residents in both places for better well-being and convenience in healthcare access. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to promote the active integration of the local healthcare sector into national development. With reference to Hong Kong's model and experience in specialist training, the Health Bureau will continue to explore with the Mainland the establishment of a standardised specialists training framework in the GBA, which is on par with international practices, to facilitate the exchange and cultivation of medical talent in the GBA and the nation. We will continue to work closely with Guangdong Province on the basis of complementarity and mutual benefits with a view to jointly building a 'Healthy Bay Area'."
In the afternoon, Professor Lo met with the Executive Director of the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research at the World Health Organization, Dr Kumanan Rasanathan. During the meeting, Professor Lo introduced him to the structure and strengths of Hong Kong's healthcare system and elaborated on how Hong Kong actively participates in international health co-operation with the support of the nation. He emphasised that Hong Kong will continue to leverage its unique position to contribute to global health governance, while demonstrating Hong Kong's commitment and potential as an international health and medical innovation hub.
Professor Lo will continue to meet with various delegations attending the HA Convention 2026 and the Asia Summit on Global Health in Hong Kong tomorrow (May 12).
Secretary for Health attends International Healthcare Week highlighting Hong Kong's role as "super connector" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health attends International Healthcare Week highlighting Hong Kong's role as "super connector" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health attends International Healthcare Week highlighting Hong Kong's role as "super connector" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health attends International Healthcare Week highlighting Hong Kong's role as "super connector" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health attends International Healthcare Week highlighting Hong Kong's role as "super connector" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health attends International Healthcare Week highlighting Hong Kong's role as "super connector" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health attends International Healthcare Week highlighting Hong Kong's role as "super connector" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
