​A spokesman for the Environment Bureau said today (March 4), further to the first round of the Anti-epidemic Subsidy Scheme for the Laundry Trade launched in May 2020, the Government will implement the second round of the Scheme under the sixth round of Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF). The Scheme, being implemented by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), is open for application from today.
The second round of the Scheme will model on the first round with a one-off operating cost subsidy to be provided to operators providing laundry and dry cleaning services, with a view to supporting the laundry trade, which has been affected by the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic and tightened social distancing measures imposed by the Government.
The spokesman said, "The second round of the Scheme will apply streamlined measures to enable more efficient processing of applications and disbursement of subsidies. Eligible applicants who have received subsidies under the first round will be disbursed with the same amounts of subsidies, if their business information remains unchanged and their businesses are still in operation. For new applications, simplified evaluation procedures will be adopted.
"A sum of about $95 million has been earmarked under the AEF for the second round of the Scheme, which is expected to benefit about 1 500 laundry shops or workshops."
Under the Scheme, eligible applicants must hold valid business registration certificates for operating laundry and dry cleaning services or related collection and dispatch services at outlet shops. The services should have been in operation on or before February 8, 2022, and still in operation on the date of submitting applications for the Scheme. Each eligible laundry shop or workshop (premises) will receive a one-off subsidy depending on its scale of operation. The subsidy amount is as follows:
| Scale of operation | Subsidy amount |
| Premises providing collection and dispatch outlet services only. No on-site laundry or dry cleaning services is provided | $10,000 |
| Premises with average daily water consumption less than 3.225 cubic metres (equivalent to average monthly water consumption less than 100 cubic metres) | $40,000 |
| Premises with average daily water consumption not less than 3.225 cubic metres but less than 32.258 cubic metres (equivalent to average monthly water consumption not less than 100 cubic metres but less than 1 000 cubic metres) | $80,000 |
| Premises with (1) average daily water consumption not less than 32.258 cubic metres (equivalent to average monthly water consumption not less than 1 000 cubic metres); or (2) internal floor area not less than 1 000 square metres |
$150,000 |
The application period for the Scheme is from today to March 18 (Friday). The laundry trade can visit the EPD website (www.epd.gov.hk/laundry_subsidy.html) for details and downloading the application form. The completed application form together with the required supporting documents should be submitted by email (laundry_subsidy@epd.gov.hk); by post to the EPD's office at Room 3410, 34/F, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; or through the drop-in boxes at regional offices of the EPD. The department will give priority to the processing of applications from successful applicants in the first round of the Scheme, with a view of disbursing the subsidy by batches from late March onwards.
Applicants can email to laundry_subsidy@epd.gov.hk for enquiries. In view of the latest situation of the epidemic, the EPD will not provide instant call answering service. Applicants can provide their contact information by leaving voice messages via telephone (3427 9848) and their enquiries will be replied during office hours (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) as soon as possible.
Follow this news feed: East Asia