The application for the fifth round of the Anti-Pandemic Funding worth HK$3.57 billion will open starting next week, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Friday.
The Hong Kong leader in a media session said the government will strive towards distributing the funding to businesses as soon as after the Lunar New Year holidays.
As the funding of this round of the scheme came from the remains of the last round, the government needed not to seek approval from the Legislative Council again, Lam said, describing the arrangement as “the fastest in history.”
Businesses can receive half of the funding they received in the last round, while individuals can receive two-thirds of the amount they got last time.
Catering businesses will get extra subsidy according to their floor area and their liquor license. For example, a restaurant with a floor area within 100 square meter will received a one-off HK$50,000 subsidy, while those with a floor area ranging between 100 and 200 square meter can get HK$100,000.
Apart from restaurants, fitness centers, beauty parlors, registered sports coaches and individual performers will benefit from the scheme as well. The tourism sector and the cross-border transport industry that remained “frozen in the ice” will also be covered.
As for interest class instructors at nurseries and children center will receive the funding individually. The funding will support over 1,000 kindergartens across the city as well, including school bus drivers.
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