A lawmaker said on Monday that more public acceptance is needed before further relaxing pet regulations on public transportation.

On Thursday, the MTR started allowing small pets in carriers onto its light rail service on weekends and public holidays.

The chairman of Legco's Panel on Transport, Chan Siu-hung, said that so far pet owners and passengers have had no issues with the new rules.

Chan told an RTHK radio show that with data collected from this initial phase, the size limitation for pets could be relaxed, or pets might be allowed on public transport during specific time slots on weekdays.

Speaking on the same show, another lawmaker said now is not the time to allow pets in public housing.

Scott Leung said he believes this would cause many problems.

"Like the most basic being dogs barking at night, affecting neighbours, or dogs relieving themselves everywhere in terms of public hygiene," Leung said.

"Even in some special cases, people have put their dogs onto public park benches and given them a shower, and they didn't clean up afterwards, despite the dirty and wet floor."