{"id":6883,"date":"2026-02-11T16:43:55","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T08:43:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.boasecohencollins.com\/?p=6883"},"modified":"2026-02-11T16:43:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T08:43:59","slug":"dining-decisions-in-the-lap-of-the-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boasecohencollins.com\/zh-hant\/%e7%b6%b2%e8%aa%8c\/dining-decisions-in-the-lap-of-the-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Dining decisions in the lap of the dogs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hong Kong, 11 February 2026:<\/strong> Roaring Twenties icon Josephine Baker maintained a menagerie<\/a> as exotic as her dancing. She kept a goat and pig in her Paris nightclub while various dogs and monkeys, plus a horse, tortoise, snake, parakeet and two goldfish, inhabited her palatial home. But her favourite was Chiquita the cheetah, who rode in the entertainer\u2019s Rolls Royce and was taken for walks along the Champs \u00c9lys\u00e9es. Future Vogue<\/em> editor Diana Vreeland once went to the cinema with Baker, only to discover she had brought the big cat with her<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History is littered with famous people owning strange pets. US president Calvin Coolidge\u2019s collection included a pygmy hippopotamus, wallaby and racoon, the latter a gift for him to eat at Thanksgiving before being granted a presidential pardon. Surrealist artist Salvador Dal\u00ed famously kept a Colombian ocelot that went everywhere with him. Roman emperor Caligula merely had a stallion \u2013 which reminds me to wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous Year of the Horse<\/a> \u2013 although he did make it a senator and would invite dignitaries to dine with it in a specially built reception house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eating with pets is nothing new, then, but Hong Kong is finally taking note. In a significant move<\/a>, the authorities are allowing up to 1,000 restaurants to welcome dogs in a new pet-friendly premises scheme starting in June. The Food Business Regulation, which currently bars canines \u2013 other than guide or service dogs \u2013 from restaurants, is being amended to allow eateries to apply for permits. Of course, our new dining companions will be monitored: \u201cknown dangerous\u201d \u2013 as classified by court order \u2013 or \u201cfighting\u201d dogs are barred and those that do gain admission must be kept on a short leash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The initiative has been widely welcomed<\/a>. Animal Welfare Advocacy Alliance coordinator Lau Chun-hoi lauds this \u201cfirst step\u201d towards wider tolerance while lawmaker Chan Pok-chi hails it as \u201ca really good improvement\u201d which reflects our changing society. Others are more sceptical<\/a>. Association for Hong Kong Catering Services Management chairman Michael Leung worries about dogs messing on floors and says the measure could cause divisions. Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades president Simon Wong, meanwhile, says under-pressure caterers have more pressing concerns, such as livelihood issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, it is part of a wider drive to indulge our furry friends. City leader John Lee has already pledged<\/a> in his annual policy address to tap into the lucrative \u201cpet economy\u201d, noting more than 10% of households here, around 240,000, keep some 400,000 cats and dogs. The financials are substantial. We spend HK$6 billion per year on pet food and HK$800 million on grooming and veterinary services, reveals Hong Kong Pet Trade Association president Angela Chan, who adds: \u201cPeople truly treat pets as family members.\u201d It\u2019s also worth highlighting this city\u2019s booming pet insurance market<\/a>, recently valued at HK$66 million with a projected annual growth rate of 11.5% from 2026-33.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with Chiquita the cheetah, there is no limit to pampering. Pet tourism<\/a> is growing, with Hong Kong citizens queuing up to take their little treasures on a private jet to Japan. Bespoke tour operator Life Travel has nearly doubled its sales this year, with managing director Billy Chan noting that, post-Covid, many owners \u201chave the financial ability\u201d to shell out for such trips. His firm is expanding operations to offer breaks in Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pet nutritionists are joining in. Plain old dog food just won\u2019t do, not when Fido can feast on dried alligator or braised duck rice and still have room for dessert, in this case canine ice cream. Going away for a few days? Your family cat will be fine thanks to the new AI-powered litter box you\u2019ve just bought and camera-linked mobile app that allows you to keep watch. All these products and much more were on display at the recent Hong Kong Pet Show, which attracted more than 1,000 exhibitors and countless visitors. Organiser Carl Wong notes the \u201cbrand new opportunities\u201d presented by our government pushing pet-friendly policies and streamlining quarantine requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this spirit, our city is gearing up for its annual Dogathon, organised by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, on 1 March. The event includes a festival at Disneyland with 5km charity walk and this year \u2013 in a \u201cmajor breakthrough for pet inclusivity\u201d, according to the SPCA \u2013 participants plus pooches can get there by train<\/a>. For one day only, certain dogs will be allowed to ride on most major rail lines thanks to a \u201cWoof Pass\u201d \u2013 yes, really \u2013 from the MTR Corporation. Some 1,200 such permits are being allocated, on a first come, first served basis, for a HK$90 donation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joining in the fun, transport firm KMB will run so-called pet buses to the charity walk from six locations. And no, owners or animals won\u2019t be strapped in. Amid red faces all around, the authorities have repealed a much-criticised law<\/a> requiring bus passengers to wear seat belts, saying they will review the legislation. The rule, which was in force for less than two weeks, sparked a backlash with passengers complaining about poorly fitting restraints, hygiene issues and concerns that unbuckling early before alighting could breach the law. Admitting the launch was botched \u2013 while stopping short of calling it a dog\u2019s breakfast \u2013 transport minister Mable Chan pledged to \u201cimprove communication\u201d, speak with experts and hold a public consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In closing, a quick trawl of news outlets reveals 33 people have been arrested<\/a> over an alleged HK$150 million government technology funding scheme fraud, the Immigration Department says it detained 710 individuals<\/a> during sham marriage investigations in 2025 and a student has been jailed<\/a> for paying an imposter to take an English proficiency test on her behalf in an effort to graduate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sobering reading and a reminder that the authorities here, in contrast to Josephine Baker, take a dim view of \u2013 ahem \u2013 cheaters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until next time, everybody!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colin Cohen<\/strong>
Senior Partner<\/strong>
Boase Cohen & Collins<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hong Kong, 11 February 2026: Roaring Twenties icon Jose […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6880,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-53"],"yoast_head":"\nDining decisions in the lap of the dogs - \u5e03\u9ad8\u6c5f\u5f8b\u5e2b\u884c<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boasecohencollins.com\/zh-hant\/%e7%b6%b2%e8%aa%8c\/dining-decisions-in-the-lap-of-the-dogs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"zh_TW\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dining decisions in the lap of the dogs - \u5e03\u9ad8\u6c5f\u5f8b\u5e2b\u884c\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Hong Kong, 11 February 2026: Roaring Twenties icon Jose […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.boasecohencollins.com\/zh-hant\/%e7%b6%b2%e8%aa%8c\/dining-decisions-in-the-lap-of-the-dogs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"\u5e03\u9ad8\u6c5f\u5f8b\u5e2b\u884c\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-11T08:43:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-11T08:43:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.boasecohencollins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/HUNDRED62cov_PHOTO2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1828\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"863\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Niall Donnelly\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"\u4f5c\u8005:\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Niall Donnelly\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"\u9810\u4f30\u95b1\u8b80\u6642\u9593\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 \u5206\u9418\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boasecohencollins.com\/zh-hant\/%e7%b6%b2%e8%aa%8c\/dining-decisions-in-the-lap-of-the-dogs\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.boasecohencollins.com\/zh-hant\/%e7%b6%b2%e8%aa%8c\/dining-decisions-in-the-lap-of-the-dogs\/\",\"name\":\"Dining decisions in the lap of the dogs - 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