Halal-friendly and pet-friendly goals can coexist

Originally published - SCMP | 10 November 2025

📝Reposted here with full credit to SCMP.

My response to “Hong Kong should balance dog-friendly trends with cultural concerns”. While hygiene and food safety matter, halal-friendliness is about inclusion, not conformity

🕌 Respecting halal-certified venues is essential

🐶 Pet-friendly spaces reflect modern inclusivity

🏙️ Zoning allows both to thrive, without exclusion

Your recent letter on permitting dogs in restaurants raises valid concerns about hygiene and food safety, which are well-supported by existing regulations and public health standards (“Hong Kong should balance dog-friendly trends with cultural concerns”, November 1). These are important considerations, especially in enclosed dining environments, and should remain central to any policy changes.

However, the letter’s framing around Islamic cultural sensitivities invites further reflection. It is reasonable to highlight that halal-certified venues must uphold ritual purity to maintain consumer trust. This is a legitimate concern for Muslim diners and certification bodies, and it should be respected within any licensing framework. Yet it is equally important to distinguish between protecting halal-certified spaces and suggesting that broader public policy should reflect specific religious teachings.

Hong Kong is a secular and pluralistic society. Its aspiration to be a halal-friendly destination is commendable, but this means offering respectful options, such as halal-certified restaurants, prayer facilities and informed service, not reshaping the entire hospitality sector around one set of religious norms. Halal-friendliness is about inclusion and accommodation, not conformity.

A more constructive approach would be to ensure zoning and certification clarity. Protecting halal-certified venues as pet-free zones is both practical and respectful, without imposing blanket restrictions on other establishments. This allows pet-friendly and halal-certified spaces to coexist, reflecting Hong Kong’s inclusive and cosmopolitan character.

The government’s proposal to introduce a licensing system for designated pet-friendly restaurants is not inherently incompatible with halal-friendly goals. With clear guidelines and transparent certification, both objectives can be met. Such a framework would support consumer choice, uphold religious sensitivities and accommodate evolving social norms.

In summary, though respecting religious sensitivities is essential, maintaining policy neutrality in a diverse society is equally important. A zoning-based approach that protects specific venues while allowing flexibility elsewhere is a fair and inclusive solution. This will support Hong Kong’s promising journey towards becoming a halal-friendly destination, one that accommodates without imposing and welcomes without exclusion.

Ahmed Ashfaq, Tsim Sha Tsui