Hong Kong restaurants eye 20% business boost as 1,000 win in dog-friendly licence ballot

Pet-friendly caterers in Hong Kong say a new licence allowing dogs in restaurants from July could lift business by up to 20 per cent, after 1,000 operators secured places in the scheme’s first ballot.The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department on Friday held a ballot to select 1,000 restaurants, after receiving 1,615 eligible applications since submissions opened last month.Lawmaker Chan Hoi-yan, chairman of the Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene, officiated the draw in front of dozens of members of the public, including eager applicants hoping to find out whether they had made the cut.Co-owner of Uluru Cafe says he expects business will improve especially on Saturdays and Sundays. Photo: Edmond SoAki Chan, co-owner of Uluru Cafe in Wan Chai and one of the successful applicants, said he expected business to increase by 15 to 20 per cent once the scheme was launched.