Hong Kong is a fantastic city in a lot of ways, but one complaint we do have is that it is not a very pet-friendly place. Unlike many Western countries, Hong Kong mostly doesn’t allow pets in shops, restaurants, malls, and public transport – although there are some exceptions – and most landlords are unwilling to rent to pet owners. However, in recent years, there has been a slow shift towards accepting animals in more public spaces, and the latest step could be allowing pets onto trains.
Hong Kong’s railway operator MTR is considering allowing passengers to travel with their pets, according to local Chinese media HK01. Sources revealed that MTR had discussed the idea of setting up pet carriages on trains, allowing pets to ride during non-peak hours or holidays, or limiting the pet policy to certain MTR lines. None of these pet policies have been confirmed by the railway company themselves, but HK01 reported that a decision could be made within the first half of the year.
Public opinion on social media is generally positive towards this development, with commenters saying Hong Kong is finally catching up with the rest of the world, and expressing how much they’re looking forward to seeing cute animals during their daily commute. However, dissenting voices are worried about hygiene, safety, and allergy issues, with a commenter snarking that they “can’t wait to see poop in the MTR”.
Currently, the only animals allowed on the MTR are guide dogs, and offenders who are caught sneaking their pets onto trains can be fined $2,000. Furry companions are also generally not allowed on buses, minibuses, and trams, so pet owners who want to venture outside their neighbourhood have to rely on taxis or ride-hailing services like Uber, which can get costly. Luckily, things are changing for the better, with Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) launching six pet-friendly weekend bus routes last year.
According to lawmaker Gary Zhang, who spoke on a radio programme on March 12, the Light Rail will most likely be the testing ground for new pet policies, as its scale is more manageable than the MTR’s main rail network. He also revealed that going pet-friendly is an idea that has been brought up almost annually within MTR’s service quality workshops. Hopefully, something will come of these internal conversations, and we’ll soon be able to travel around the city more easily with beloved pets in tow.
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