A restaurant in Kwun Tong has apologized over an incident involving one of its workers turning away a visually impaired customer because she had a guide dog.
According to the Hong Kong Blind Union, the customer, Wing Man, arrived at the Japanese restaurant with her colleagues at lunchtime on Wednesday.
After she and her colleagues sat down and ordered their food, a worker came over and said they must leave because the eatery does not permit pets.
They clarified that Hong Kong laws allow guide dogs to accompany their handlers in restaurants, and that Wing Man requires the assistance of her seeing eye dog, Delta.
Still, the worker said the restaurant does not have a “guide dogs welcome” sticker on its window, and insisted that that they do not dine here.
After the party was forced to leave, Wing Man reported the incident to Hong Kong Blind Union, who contacted the restaurant. The restaurant later apologized to the union, explaining that the worker lacked training and awareness of laws permitting guide dogs in eateries.
Watch: Hong Kong’s Seeing Eye Dogs
The union wrote: “We hope that all restaurant owners can pay attention to this, and that managers and frontline staff alike should know that people with visual impairment can bring their guide dogs into restaurants.”
Under Hong Kong law, anyone who bars guide dogs from entering public places including supermarkets, public transportation and restaurants risk violating the Disability Discrimination Ordinance.
While the Food Business Regulation states that dogs cannot be brought onto food premises, an exemption is made for dogs serving as a guide for a totally or partially blind person.
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