To assist licensed guesthouses to tackle the financial difficulties arising from the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government has established the Licensed Guesthouses Subsidy Scheme under the Anti-epidemic Fund. Each eligible guesthouse may receive a one-off subsidy of either $50,000 or $80,000. The scheme has been open for registration since the approval of the Anti-epidemic Fund by the Legislative Council Finance Committee on February 21. The deadline for registration is March 20.
All guesthouses with a valid guesthouse licence issued under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance as at February 21, 2020 are eligible for registration. The registration form and guideline can be downloaded from the website of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) under the Home Affairs Department (www.hadla.gov.hk) or obtained from the OLA's office (Address: 10th Floor, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong).
Guesthouse licence holders should submit the completed registration forms together with documentary proof of their bank account to the OLA by post or in person. They can also file the registration forms and supporting documents via fax or email but are required to submit the original registration forms afterwards. The OLA will verify the registration forms upon receipt. Generally, the disbursement of subsidies could be arranged in about 14 working days after the submission of the completed registration form and the supporting document.
Under the Licensed Guesthouses Subsidy Scheme, each eligible guesthouse with one to five licensed guestrooms may receive a one-off subsidy of $50,000 and those with six or more licensed guestrooms may receive a one-off subsidy of $80,000.
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