Ricky Tam Wai-kit’s pet-friendly Uluru Cafe in Wan Chai was recently issued a grim ultimatum by Hong Kong food hygiene officers – a week-long closure if officers spotted one more dog in his restaurant, with another offence meaning losing his licence forever.
“We like pets and animals, but this has made us a target for attack,” Tam said, adding that a neighbour had frequently complained to environmental authorities about pets in his restaurant.
“I don’t understand why they have to weaponise the law to punish us when we are just trying to run a business.”
To save his business, Tam was forced to ban regular customers from bringing their pets, some of whom travelled from as far as Tuen Mun in the New Territories.
While an online post announcing the difficult decision sparked an outpouring of sympathy, it could not pay the bills.
“We announced on Facebook and Instagram that we no longer allow dogs, so pet owners stopped coming,” he said.
“Our business dropped by 20 to 30 per cent. I can’t tell if the government is trying to help small businesses like us or not.”
