Key facts
- Marz Menu cafe in Hong Kong was denied a dog-friendly licence.
- The denial is due to a ban on dogs in the estate's land-use document (deed of mutual covenant).
- Homeowners of Kai Yan Court must consent to amending the document for the cafe to be approved.
- The Housing Department confirmed it would assist with the amendment procedures.
- The pet-friendly licence scheme is scheduled to launch on July 9.
A cafe in Hong Kong, Marz Menu, has been prevented from obtaining a dog-friendly venue licence due to existing land-use regulations. Despite winning a ballot for the licence, the venue was disqualified after it was discovered that dogs are banned from the walkway outside the restaurant, an area managed by the Housing Department.
The Housing Department stated that homeowners of the Kai Yan Court housing estate must agree to amend the deed of mutual covenant (DMC) under the Land Registry, which currently prohibits dogs on the premises. Without this amendment, Marz Menu cannot be designated as a dog-friendly establishment.