Extension of subsidised period from four months to seven months and relaxation of cap of subsidised headcounts from six to 100 per block for “Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Property Management Sector”

     To support the anti-epidemic work of the property management sector, the Government launched the "Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Property Management Sector" (ASPM) under the "Anti-epidemic Fund" in late February 2020 to subsidise owners' organisations or property management companies of eligible private residential and composite (i.e. commercial cum residential) buildings to provide the "Anti-epidemic Hardship Allowance" ("AHA") to the frontline property management workers. The ASPM also provides the "Anti-epidemic Cleansing Subsidy" to owners' organisations or property management companies to alleviate the costs arising from heightened cleansing efforts and the burden on the owners and tenants.  

     Further to the extension of the coverage of subsidy to industrial and commercial buildings (including shopping malls) in April 2020, considering that the epidemic situation may still be fluctuating, and continuous efforts in epidemic prevention measures and anti-epidemic work will therefore be required, the Government announced the "Enhanced Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Property Management Sector" (Enhanced ASPM) on May 30, 2020. Under the Enhanced ASPM, the subsidised period will be extended for three more months (i.e. June to August 2020) and the cap of headcounts of the "AHA" will be relaxed to 100 per eligible building block.

     The application deadline for the Enhanced ASPM is July 15, 2020. If property management companies and owners' organisations have submitted applications for the ASPM before the enhancement, they do not need to submit a new application for the Enhanced ASPM. The Home Affairs Department or the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) will contact the property management companies and owners' organisations concerned direct.

     As of today (June 6), the ASPM has received around 10 600 applications, of which around 8 500 applications have been approved. The approved applications involve subsidies of over 280 million and benefit more than 35 000 building blocks and over 70 000 front-line property management workers. Please refer to the website of the PMSA (aspm.pmsahk.org.hk/?lang=en) for the names of the properties for which applications have been approved.

     For details on the ASPM, please contact the PMSA at 3696 1156 or 3696 1166, or visit the website of the PMSA.