Hong Kong lawmakers have called a new government proposal to allow up to 1,000 restaurants to welcome dogs a “good step forward”, with one legislator saying the measure could be a “test case” for the pet economy. Agriculture and fisheries sector lawmaker Chan Pok-chi said on Wednesday the measure balanced the needs of the public and restaurants. “This is the first time that [authorities] have loosened regulations in the past 30 or so years; I think it’s a proposal that responds to the demands of…