Across the Chinese territory, around 990 dining establishments have a licence that allows pets inside, marking the end of a decades-old prohibition. The impetus for Hong Kong’s rule change is partly economic — a boost for a hospitality sector that has been hard hit by the rise in people heading north for cheaper meals out. Yet the rules — which require a leash no longer than 1.5 metres — have prompted some disquiet from diners. ► Enjoying FT content? Get a daily slice of the very best FT journalism with FT Edit. Free for 30 days then just £4.99 a month See if you get the FT for free as a student (http://ft.com/schoolsarefree) or start a £1 trial: https://subs.ft.com/spa3_trial?segmentId=3d4ba81b-96bb-cef0-9ece-29efd6ef2132. ► Check out our Community tab for more stories: https://www.youtube.com/@FinancialTimes/community ► Listen to our podcasts: https://www.ft.com/podcasts ► Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financialtimes ► Follow us on Instagram: https://www.tiktok.com/@financialtimes