Hong Kong’s Anti-Epidemic Fund 6.0 summarized
6 minute read
On 14 February, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government announced its sixth round of measures to the Anti-Epidemic Fund. This was in response to tightening of social measures in the country, earlier in January.
In addition, on 23 February, Hong Kong’s finance chef presented the Hong Kong budget address, with an anti-pandemic fund of over HKD 64 billion, along with HKD 20 billion to support businesses and individuals affected by the pandemic.
How can your business benefit from the anti-epidemic fund? Find out in our summary below.
Overview:
What is the Anti-Epidemic Fund?
The Anti-Epidemic Fund was first introduced on 21st February 2020 to help businesses cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has since undergone six reiterations in response to the developing pandemic situation in Hong Kong.
Approximately 67,000 businesses will be eligible under the latest round of funding which amounts to US$3.5 billion in reliefs.
The funding is branched out into four broad categories:
- Those affected by social tightening measures
- Those affected since the start of the pandemic.
- Those working in the hard-hit business and frontline staff.
- Those under short-term/temporary unemployment.
Here are the measures summarized.
Businesses affected by social tightening reliefs
The following measures* apply to businesses affected by the tightening of social measures.
Eligibility
The following holders of relevant food licenses
- General restaurant
- Light refreshment restaurant
- Marine restaurant
- Factory canteen
Level of subsidy
- Not exceeding 100m2 → HK$100k
- >100m2 – 200m2 → HK$200k
- >200m2 – 400m2 → HK$300k
- >400m2 – 700m2 → HK$400k
- >700m2 → HK$500,000
Eligibility
- Catering businesses ordered to cease operations entirely.
Level of subsidy
- HK$50k
Eligibility
- Operating in FEHD markets; OR
- Cooked food stall tenants with a hawker license, operating in a public housing development.
Level of subsidy
- One time subsidy of HK$50k
Eligibility
- All operating food factories.
Level of subsidy
- Not exceeding 20m2 → HK$20k
- >20m2 – 60m2 → HK$50k
- >60m2 → HK$100k
Level of subsidy
- One-off subsidy of HK$100k
Level of subsidy
- Tiered subsidy ranging from HK$30-100k, depending on the businesses’ number of workers; subject to a cap of HK$1.5 million.
- One-off subsidy at HK$40k to each affected party room and pleasure vessel.
Level of subsidy
- Tiered subsidy ranging from HK$15-50k, depending on the businesses’ number of workers; subject to a cap of $1.5M
Eligibility
- Cinema must be licensed as a place of public entertainment with a commercial operation.
Level of subsidy
- HK$100k per screen of each licensed; subject to a cap of HK$3 million.
Level of subsidy
- One-time payment of HK$5k for each stall operator
Level of subsidy
- HK$100k for each premise.
Level of subsidy
- Not exceeding 500m2 → HK$100k
- >500m2 → HK$200k
Eligibility
- Must be a holder of a Certificate of Compliance.
Level of subsidy
- HK$100k to each valid holder.
- Additional HK$50k for those operating as karaoke establishments, night clubs or bar/ pubs.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Eligibility
- Must be a valid Public Entertainment Licence (PPEL) holder.
Level of subsidy
- HK$50,000 per PPEL holder.
- HK$10,000 per temporary PPEL holder.
Eligibility
- Holder of a valid Places of Amusement license
Level of subsidy
- HK$100k per licensee or operator
Eligibility
- Held on an affected government site.
Level of subsidy
- HK$100k
Eligibility
- Holder of a valid Mahjong/ Tin Kau license.
Level of subsidy
- HK$100k per licensee.
Level of subsidy
- HK$80k per eligible group.
Level of subsidy
- HK$100k per company.
Level of subsidy
- Calculated at the rate of HK$4k per full-day enrolment and HK$2k per half-day enrolment.
Eligibility
- Offer Non-formal Curriculum (PSNFCs).
- Registered under the Education Ordinance.
- Within operation from the date of invitation of application.
Level of subsidy
- HK$40k per school.
Level of subsidy
- Kindergartens → HK$60-160k depending on size and type.
- Private Day Schools → HK$80k
Level of subsidy
- HK$80k per tuck shop/ canteen
- HK$10k per school the lunch box provider is serving
Businesses affected by pandemic
The following measures* apply to businesses that have experienced a loss in business revival since the pandemic.
Level of subsidy
- <10 staff → HK$50k
- >10 staff → HK$5k per staff member
Eligibility
- Must not be receiving current financial incentives or subsidies as a quarantine facility or transitional housing
Level of subsidy
- <100 licensed guest rooms → HK$300k
- >101 licensed guest rooms → HK$400k
Level of subsidy
Launch of “spend to redeem” programme that involves:
- Cruise-to-nowhere itinerary through Hong Kong Tourism Board
- Local passengers enjoy HK$500 discount in booking fees with spending of at least HK$800 in physical retail or dining outlets during a specified period
Eligibility
- Guesthouse must have a valid license issued under under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance
- Must not be receiving current financial incentives or subsidies as a quarantine facility or transitional housing
Level of subsidy
- 1 to 5 guestrooms → HK$50k
- >6 guestrooms → HK$80k
Eligibility
- Project covered under the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme, PMQ (revitalized from the Former Police Married Quarters on Hollywood Road), and the Fly the Flyover Operation in Kowloon East
Level of subsidy
- One-off subsidy of HK$1M
Level of subsidy
- One-off subsidy of HK$14M to reduce 75% of rental for all tenants from April to September 2022
- Tenant of following spaces:
- Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre and arts spaces run by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council
- Hong Kong Science Park, InnoParks and Cyberport
Level of subsidy - Rental concession at 75% from 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022
Eligibility
- Operators of kaito services
- Operator of franchised bus, tram, ferry, local non-franchised bus, taxi, green minibus (GMB), red minibus (RMB), school private light bus and local hire car
Level of subsidy
- One-off subsidy of HK$20k per kaito operator
- One-off subsidy of HK$30k per vehicle
- HK$2 discount per liter of gas and 40% reimbursement of fuel cost for five months for petrol taxis and diesel PLBs.
Level of subsidy
- HK$30k per licensed vehicle/ vessel/ hire car
- HK$500k per operator of each cross-boundary ferry
Level of subsidy
- Site area <5000 square metres → HK$200k
- Site area between 5000 and 10,000 square metres → HK$400k
- Site area >10 000 square metres → HK$600k
Level of subsidy
- HK$100k for each wholesale trade in Fish Marketing Organization (FMO) markets
- HK$20k for fresh food wholesalers in public or private markets, subject to a cap of HK$100k
Level of subsidy
- HK$20k for fishing vessels and fish collectors with Mainland deckhands
- HK$10k for each local primary producer
Level of subsidy
- Average monthly water consumption <500 cubic metres → HK$80k
- Average monthly water consumption >500 cubic metres → HK$150k
Level of subsidy
- Providing collection and dispatch outlet services only and no on-site laundry or dry cleaning service is provided → HK$10k
- Average monthly water consumption <100m3 → HK$40k
- Average monthly water consumption between 100 and 1000m3 → HK$80k
- Average monthly water consumption >1000 m3 → HK$150k
Eligibility
- A valid licence issued by the Labour Department
Level of subsidy
- HK$50,000 for each main licence which provides foreign domestic helper (FDH) placement service
- For EAs which do not provide FDH placement service, HK$$30,000 will be granted for each main licence
- Additional HK$10k for each duplicate licence for branch office of both kinds of EAs
Individuals in hard-hit sectors and frontliners
The following measures* apply to those affected by hard-hit sectors and frontline individuals who have been making contributions to anti-epidemic efforts.
Level of subsidy
- HK$10k per registered sports coach
Eligibility
- Affected by the cancellation of sport and recreation and culture programs organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department between 4 to 28 February 2022
Level of subsidy
- Full salary reimbursement
Eligibility
- Hired by Subvented Non-governmental Welfare Organisations
Level of subsidy
- HK$10k per eligible instructor
Level of subsidy
- HK$10k per eligible instructor, coach, trainer, or operator of interest classes engaged by schools
- HK$10k per eligible school bus driver and school private light bus driver
- HK$10,000 per vehicle for escorts
Level of subsidy
- HK$10k per eligible art practitioner/freelancer
Eligibility
- A valid license between 1 February 2021 to 31 January 2022 under the Entertainment Special Effects Ordinance (Cap. 560)
Level of subsidy - HK$10k per eligible special effects operator (SEO) and assistant (SEA)
Level of subsidy
- Staff, tourist guides/ escorts → HK$7.5k
- Tour service drivers → HK$5k
- Cross-boundary drivers → HK$10k
Eligibility
- Frontline property management (PM) workers performing duties related to security or environmental hygiene in private residential or industrial/ commercial building blocks.
- Engaged by either the Government, Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) and Hong Kong Housing Society (HS) Service Contractors in Anti-epidemic Efforts (Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau).
- Staff of Residential Care Homes for Elderly (RCHEs) or Residential Care Home for Persons with Disability (RCHDs).
Level of subsidy
- Monthly allowance of HK$2k for five months, capped to 100 individuals per eligible building.
Employees under short-term unemployment
The following support* applies to those under temporary unemployment.
Level of subsidy
- One-time subsidy of HK$10k
*Information taken from info.gov.hk.
Measures will be updated as more information on the grants are updated in the coming weeks.
Wrap up
During these challenging times, we are here for you. Have any questions or require more assistance? Contact us to get customized advice on how to navigate your business. Our team of experts will be ready to guide you.
