The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) is operating the Places of Public Entertainment Licence Holder Subsidy Scheme under the Anti-epidemic Fund.  The Scheme is now open to applications from eligible Places of Public Entertainment Licence holders for a grant of one-off subsidy.  A one-off subsidy of $100,000 will be provided to eligible licence holders of the places of public entertainment and a one-off subsidy of $20,000 will be provided to eligible licence holders of the temporary places of public entertainment which has been ordered to close pursuant to the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F).

The application period and procedures are set out below:

Eligibility

The applicant shall hold a valid Places of Public Entertainment Licence issued by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene for any period when the directions are in effect^{[Note 1]} .  The details are as follows:

1. An applicant must to fulfil the following criteria:

1. the applicant holds a valid places of public entertainment licence or temporary places of public entertainment licence of any one of the four categories listed in item (2) of Part II of the application form for Places of Public Entertainment Licence Holder Subsidy Scheme (Subject Licence) issued by FEHD for any period when the directions are in effect;

2. such applications for a Subject Licence have been submitted on or before 27 March 2020; AND

3. the applicant has held or is holding the valid Subject Licence on the date of approval of this application.
2. For a person holding more than one valid Subject Licence when the directions are in effect, if those licences are obtained in respect of the same entertainment activity held in the same premises, the applicant should only be entitled to a one-off subsidy once ^{[Note 2]}   under this subsidy scheme.

Means of Application

• Obtaining Application Forms

  During the application period, eligible applicants may download the application form from the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk).  Alternatively, they may obtain the form in person at District Environmental Hygiene Offices (DEHOs) during office hours.

  • Notes on filling in and submission of application forms

    Before completing the application form, please read carefully the form, the application criteria and the notes therein.

• Submission of Application Forms
  • Completed application forms should be submitted within the application period by the following means:
    1. Return the application form by post to the DEHO in the district where the licensed places of public entertainment is located; or
    2. Submit the application form in person to the DEHO in the district where the licensed places of public entertainment is located.

       The opening hours of District Environmental Hygiene Offices are as follow : Monday to Friday： 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays Addresses and Telephone Numbers of District Environmental Hygiene Offices

  • An applicant may submit only one application form for each licensed commercial bathhouse.  The provision of personal data in the application form is voluntary.  Duplicate applications will not be processed.  An application will not be accepted if the prescribed form is not used or applicants tender late submission or provide insufficient or incorrect information.
  • The application form shall be submitted before 5:00 p.m. on 27 May 2020.  For applications by post, the date of application will be determined according to the postmark date.  Late submissions will not be accepted.

Processing of Application

• FEHD will in general issue an acknowledgement of application to the applicant on receipt of application.  No matter the application is submitted by post or in person, FEHD will make use of the local mobile phone number entered in the Application Form to issue acknowledgment of receipt of application and the relevant application number through SMS.  No acknowledgement and notification of application number through SMS will be made if local mobile phone number is not provided.
•  Applications will be processed and approved by the FEHD in the order they are received.  On approval, each eligible holder of a Subject Licence in item (2)(a), item (2)(b) or item (2)(c) of Part II of the application form for Places of Public Entertainment Licence Holder Subsidy Scheme (the Application Form) for will receive a one-off subsidy of $100,000 and each eligible holder of a Subject Licence in item (2)(d) of Part II of the Application Form will receive a one-off subsidy of $20,000, subject to the limitation set out in item(2) of Part III.  The subsidy will be released to the licensee by a crossed cheque and by post to the address of the licensed premises with a Subject Licence in items (2)(a), (2)(b) or (2)(c) of Part II of the Application Form and to the last known correspondence address entered in the application form (FEHB 104) for premises with a Subject Licence in item (2)(d) of Part II of the Application Form according to the record of FEHD.

Other Points to Note

• The Government reserves the right to take appropriate action, including but not limited to refusing or not approving an application for subsidy or revoking any approval given, and recovering any subsidy granted and all related expenses incurred arising from false information given, false declaration made, or breach of Cap. 599F, directions made thereunder, or licensing conditions.
• It is an offence under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Cap. 201) to offer advantages to government officers in relation to their official duties.
• Applicants may be required to attend an interview and provide documentary proof before the release of the subsidy.
• No fee is payable for obtaining or submitting application forms.
•  FEHD has not entrusted any organisations/persons to receive/process applications or assist in the submission of applications.

Note 1:  The directions issued so far pursuant to Cap. 599F took effect from 6:00 pm on 28 March 2020, initially for a period 14 days and subsequently extended to 7 May 2020. This period may be extended subject to any further directions issued by the Secretary for Food and Health.
Note 2:  That is, the subsidy is for one time only (not for multiple times).