Hong Kong's light rail pet-friendly scheme to go regular soon

HONG KONG -- The arrangement of allowing pet owners in Hong Kong to bring their cats and dogs to ride on the light rail on weekends and public holidays will continue as an ongoing initiative starting from September, the MTR Corporation announced Wednesday.

The trial scheme, launched by the MTR Corporation Limited in March, stipulated that a "Cat/Dog Carrying Pass" for pet owners is a must aside from their own fare and each pass-holder can only carry one cat/dog per ride.

Since May this year, the MTR Corporation has implemented the arrangement, making travel more convenient for cat and dog owners while promoting a more inclusive and pet-friendly community. During the trial period, Light Rail operations have remained smooth, and most passengers welcomed the initiative.

MTR has laid out specific rules for the trial scheme to ensure railway operational safety, hygiene and well-being of traveling cats and dogs while minimizing the impact on other passengers, including specifications of the cat/dog carrier as well as boarding and alighting locations.

The corporation conducted surveys with cat and dog owners as well as non-pet-owning passengers, revealing that over 95 percent of respondents positively recognized the scheme and MTR's efforts in promoting community inclusiveness through this initiative.

Cheris Lee Yuen-ling, chief of Operating and Metro Segment of MTR Corporation Limited, said that the corporation will continue to engage with stakeholders, monitor the scheme's performance, and stay committed to delivering a safe and comfortable travel experience for all passengers.

The light rail, operated by MTR Corporation Limited, serves the northwestern New Territories in Hong Kong.