A catering sector representative on Tuesday welcomed the government's plan to allow people to take dogs into up to 1,000 restaurants by the middle of the year.

Simon Wong, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, said he expects catering businesses to benefit from the move.

"There are so many dogs around Hong Kong. I think a lot more dog owners would bring their pets to enter the restaurants, which will bring in more business for the restaurant," Wong said.

"We have to watch out for hygiene issues, but I think dog owners care very much about their dogs, so restaurant owners do not need to worry much."

Wong said a proposed requirement that dogs must be on a leash no longer than 1.5 metres will reduce the chance of the pets causing nuisance to other diners.

He said it is difficult to tell how many restaurants will be interested in applying for a licence to admit dogs, but the quota could be increased after some time.

An animal welfare group also welcomed the phased approach, saying this helps ensure the long-term success of pet-friendly policies.

“Starting with 500 to 1,000 venues is a significant and welcome step forward,” said Susan Lai, founder of the Animal Rights and Welfare Association.

“It's not about opening the floodgates immediately, but about establishing a successful model. If this pilot phase goes well, I'm confident that the number will naturally expand to meet the full demand.”

Lai also said the various licensing requirements, including not allowing dogs on seats or for meals to be prepared for them, strike a fair and necessary balance between public hygiene and pet-friendly access.

“Prohibiting them from tables is a standard hygiene practice globally," she said.

“Regarding the food, while we'd love to see fresh dogs [food] menus eventually, starting with pre-packaged food minimises the cross-contamination risk in human kitchens.”

Meanwhile, DAB lawmaker Chan Pok-chi suggested the government could offer restaurants help with training their staff on how to interact with animals and how to handle any emergencies.