The government said on Wednesday it plans to add 20 more pet gardens and inclusive parks for domestic animals over the next three years, adding that a review on regulations about dogs in restaurants is under way.

In a written reply to a lawmaker, cultural and tourism chief Rosanna Law said there are currently 55 pet gardens and 180 inclusive parks in the city.

Officials received 695 complaints about these pet-friendly areas last year, with the main concerns being about hygiene and venue facilities, Law said.

Law added that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department won't create pet-friendly spaces at beaches and holiday camps due to safety and hygiene reasons.

On allowing dogs in restaurants, the Environment and Ecology Bureau acknowledged that there is a growing trend in this regard but noted that "food premises in Hong Kong are generally cramped".

In response to another question, the bureau's chief, Tse Chin-wan, said there is currently no specific or consistent definition for pet-friendly restaurants.

Tse added that officials need to strike a balance between public health considerations, operational constraints and social acceptance before making any policy changes.

Meanwhile, housing secretary Winnie Ho said there is no plan to relax policies governing the keeping of dogs in public rental flats. The arrangement has been in place for 22 years.

Currently, a temporary permission arrangement by the Housing Authority only allows those public housing tenants who had dogs before August 2003 to keep their registered dogs with them.

In a written reply to a separate inquiry, Ho said the government needs to take into account noise levels, hygiene considerations and potential conflicts between neighbours in densely populated public housing estates in weighing any easing of existing regulations.