Government to launch Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme to subsidise venue rental for convention and exhibition activities

     The Government announced today (September 24) that, in light of the gradual stabilisation of the epidemic situation and the progressive resumption of convention and exhibition activities, a 100 per cent venue rental subsidy for organisers of exhibitions and international conventions held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and AsiaWorld-Expo under the Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme will be launched on October 3.

     The subsidy, which has no cap, will last for 12 months to October 2, 2021, and is applicable to all exhibitions and international conventions held at the two venues during the period. Eligible organisers will be required to submit applications via the two venue operators after the events. 

     A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) said that to ease the cash flow of exhibition organisers, if an exhibition has been held in the two aforementioned venues for the past five years, the organiser may submit an application two months before the event to obtain in advance a subsidy equivalent to 50 per cent of the venue rental. The remaining subsidy will be disbursed after completion of the exhibition.

     The relevant application guidelines and forms can be downloaded from the CEDB's website (www.cedb.gov.hk/citb/) and obtained from the two venue operators.

     The spokesman urged organisers to share the subsidy with participants. Eligible exhibitors can also apply for funding support under the SME Export Marketing Fund to cover their participation fees for exhibition events on a matching basis.

     Set up under the Anti-epidemic Fund, the Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme has a total commitment of $1,020 million. Regarding the part of the Scheme that subsidises exhibitors of exhibitions organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and participants of its major conventions, the Government will announce its launch date later having regard to the HKTDC's event arrangements in the coming few months.