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Hawksford: Understanding the Food License Subsidy Scheme under the Anti-epidemic Fund

The Government launched the Food License Holders Subsidy Scheme and Licensed Hawkers Subsidy Scheme under the 'Anti-epidemic Fund' to provide financial support to the food business sector and licensed hawkers hit by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced that the deadline for applications will be on 4 May 2020 at 5pm.

The Food License Holders Subsidy Scheme aims to provide financial subsidies to eight types of food business license holders.

  • A one-off subsidy of $200,000 will be provided to eligible license holders of the premises in operation including general restaurants, marine restaurants and factory canteens;
  • and a subsidy of $80,000 will be provided to eligible license holders of the premises in operation including light refreshment restaurants, fresh provision shops, food factories, bakeries and siu mei and lo mei shops.

The Licensed Hawkers Subsidy Scheme will offer a subsidy of $5,000 to each eligible licensee of a hawker license, which remains valid when the application is approved.

The Food License Holders Subsidy Scheme and the Licensed Hawkers Subsidy Scheme are expected to benefit about 28,000 licensees and 5,500 licensees respectively.

Eligibility for Food License Holders Subsidy Scheme

The applicant should hold a valid General Restaurant, Marine Restaurant, Factory Canteen, Light Refreshment Restaurant, Fresh Provision Shop, Food Factory, Bakery or Siu Mei and Lo Mei Shop License (full or provisional license) issued by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene under the Food Business Regulation on or before 14 February 2020.

Eligibility for Licensed Hawkers Subsidy Scheme

The Applicant is holder of a valid Fixed-pitch Hawker License or Itinerant Hawker License issued by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene under the Hawker Regulation on or before 14 February 2020 and still holds the valid hawker license on the date of approval of the application.

To read more about the Food Licenses here.

About Anti-epidemic Fund

The HKSAR Government has recently announced the setting up of the “Anti-epidemic Fund” to enhance Hong Kong’s capability in combating the novel coronavirus epidemic and to provide relief to enterprises and members of the public affected by the current epidemic outbreak.

Please, find below another Subsidies under this Fund.

Retail Sector Subsidy Scheme

To target businesses which sell goods at a physical location mainly to the general public for personal/household consumption.

Convention & Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme

  • $1,020 million has been allocated
  • A 50% subsidy of the participation fee at each exhibition and major conventions organised by HKTDC will be granted.

Rental waivers for tenants at the Science Park, industrial estates and Cyberport

The rental relief will cover all start-ups, incubates, co-working space users, office tenants, partner companies, professional services companies and merchant outlets at the Hong Kong Science Park, InnoCentre, industrial estates and Cyberport

To read more about Anti-epidemic Fund here.

Hong Kong Budget 2020/21

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced the 2020/21 Hong Kong Budget on 26 February, outlining the Hong Kong SAR Government’s plan for the economy and shared their proposals for taxation developments. To read more about Hong Kong Budget 2020/2021.

Useful links

Food & Beverage Hawksford: Challenges and opportunities ahead for the Greater Bay Area Hawksford on the Hong Kong Budget 2020/2021: What businesses need to know Hawksford: China's Greater Bay Area - The next Silicon Valley

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