The Government has launched earlier the second round of the subsidy scheme for the promotion of contactless payment in public markets under the Anti-epidemic Fund, and extended the scope to cover licensed hawkers. Applications under the subsidy scheme will end at 5pm on Wednesday (June 30). A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (June 28) reminded eligible tenants of public market stalls and licensed hawkers wishing to apply for the subsidy to submit their applications before the deadline.
The FEHD spokesman reiterated, "The use of contactless payment can reduce cash exchanges, thereby enhancing public hygiene and reducing the risk of virus transmission."
The scheme opened for application on April 30. A one-off subsidy is provided to eligible tenants of FEHD market stalls (including cooked food stalls) and licensed hawkers at a flat rate of $5,000 for use to meet the initial set-up costs as well as service and other fees in relation to the provision of at least one contactless payment means, which would be processed through a licensed bank or a stored value facility licensee regulated by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, or a debit/credit card scheme, for customers.
Tenants and licensed hawkers are required to submit an application to the FEHD and obtain approval in principle before signing a service contract with a service provider in relation to the provision of at least one contactless payment means, and the tenants and hawkers have to produce a valid service contract of no less than a duration of two years signed by them. The FEHD will conduct inspections to ensure completion of installation before disbursing the subsidy.
The FEHD spokesman appealed again to eligible tenants of public market stalls and licensed hawkers to participate in the scheme, calling on those who wish to apply for the subsidy to obtain application forms from District Environmental Hygiene Offices of the FEHD and submit their applications on or before 5pm on June 30.
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