$27B RELIEF FUND FOR VIRUS FIGHT

14-2-2022

gov_rss

The Government today said it will seek the Legislative Council Finance Committee’s approval for injecting $27 billion into the Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF), involving 48 measures to support 67,000 businesses and 750,000 individuals.

The committee will discuss the funding proposal at an online meeting tomorrow.

Chief Secretary John Lee said: “The Government fully understands the impact the pandemic and tightening of social distancing measures have brought to the community, particularly to the grass-roots. As such, we have swiftly rolled out a new round of the AEF.

“The various support measures will help safeguard jobs and preserve the economic strength of Hong Kong, such that our economy will be able to recover as soon as possible when this wave of the pandemic subsides.”

Over 60% of the total financial commitment will be dedicated to aiding individuals, and it is the first time that the Government introduces a Temporary Unemployment Relief, he noted.

The Temporary Unemployment Relief will provide a one-off, flat-rate $10,000-subsidy to full-time or part-time workers receiving a monthly salary not exceeding $30,000 before they were laid off. Those who have lost their jobs since the fifth wave of the pandemic started and have remained unemployed for at least one month at the time of application may enrol.

While eligible self-employed citizens will be considered, recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance or other measures under the sixth-round AEF will not be considered, the Government said.

Furthermore, a new round of the Job Creation Scheme will be rolled out to create an additional 30,000 time-limited jobs in the public and private sectors to assist the unemployed to re-enter the job market.

For premises which are required to be closed, or businesses significantly restricted by the tightened social distancing measures, such as catering premises, beauty parlours, massage establishments, fitness centres and cinemas, the subsidy rates will double those under the fifth-round AEF. For example, licensees of catering premises will receive a subsidy ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 based on the premises’ licensed area.

This round of the AEF will also include hair salons and barber shops which have been required to close since February 10, the Government added.

Meanwhile, the Government will give out subsidies to businesses that are hard hit by the pandemic and indirectly affected by the social distancing measures, including the tourism sector, hotels and guesthouses, passenger transport trade, laundry trade, dishware washing trade, employment agencies and local primary producers. Among them, a 75% rental concession for a period of six months will be offered to tenants of specific places like PMQ, Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre, Arts Spaces, Hong Kong Science Park, Innoparks and Cyberport.

Eligible self-employed people and freelancers of the arts and culture sector and the creative industry, tourist guides and tour escorts, sports/recreation/culture trainers and cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers will also be given support under the sixth-round fund.

A monthly allowance of $2,000 for a period of five months will be disbursed to frontline cleansing and security staff engaged by the Government’s service contractors or working in private buildings and industrial/commercial properties; frontline airport staff in targeted groups; and staff of residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for people with disabilities.

The Government expects that the majority of the measures will be open for application within one month after the funding injection is secured.




PREVIOUSNEXT

Latest Business News

最新商業資訊


Multisensory show launched in TST  28-3-2024

gov_rss

Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung today attended the launch ceremony of Voyage with Van Gogh, an ...


CS concludes Hainan visit  28-3-2024

gov_rss

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki concluded his visit to Hainan today by attending the opening plenary of the Boao Forum for A...


Mortgage loans down 15%  28-3-2024

gov_rss

The value of residential mortgage loans approved in February was $17.9 billion, a 15% drop compared with January, the Mon...


CS speaks at Boao thematic forum  27-3-2024

gov_rss

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today attended the Global Free Trade Ports Development Forum at the Boao Forum for Asia Annu...