Allowing dogs to enter restaurants running smooth in first month
The new measure of allowing dogs to enter permitted restaurants has been implemented for one month since July 9. A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (August 9) that during this one-month adaptation period, the overall operation was generally smooth with a satisfactory level of compliance. Members of the public and restaurants made their choices according to their preferences and needs, and have gradually adapted to the new arrangement.
Photo source: AP News
The spokesman pointed out that the first phase of the new measure sets a quota of 1 000 restaurants, and the number of permitted restaurants has increased from about 940 at the beginning to over 980 at present, reflecting the steady and continuous implementation of the measure in responding to community aspirations. However, the FEHD reminded operators that before applying for allowing dogs to enter, they must carefully consider the market positioning, customer base, and operational conditions of their restaurants, and make sufficient preparations before implementation to achieve the intended outcomes. A waiting list mechanism is established under the policy to ensure that when individual restaurants decide to withdraw, the released quotas can be reallocated swiftly and in an orderly manner.
The spokesman added that it was within expectations that assistance from the department regarding compliance with relevant regulations would be needed in the initial stage of implementation. Following continuous inspections, publicity, and education by the department, individual non-compliant behaviors have been properly rectified. As the adaptation period ends today, the department will conduct flexible inspections based on risk assessments. If non-compliance is detected, enforcement action will be taken immediately without prior warning.
Photo source: AP News
Over the past month, FEHD's dedicated team continued to inspect restaurants across various districts to provide support to each permitted restaurants, as well as enhance the compliance awareness of them and customers through publicity and education. All parties were generally able to comply with the relevant regulations. As of August 8, dedicated officers have conducted about 29 600 inspections of permitted restaurants across various districts, issued a total of 77 verbal warnings, and taken enforcement actions against serious non-compliance behaviors, including issuing warning letters to licensees of three permitted restaurants for persistent non-compliance of cooking or heating food on dining tables, and instituting two prosecutions against failure to securely hold dogs on leashes. In addition, dedicated officers also proactively inspected non-permitted restaurants, and instituted prosecutions against six of them in breach of the regulation for allowing dogs to enter.
The FEHD emphasised that both restaurants and customers must abide by the law and regulations, and expressed hope that all parties will respect each other, earnestly fulfill their respective responsibilities, and jointly promote pet inclusivity.
Photo source: AP News
