Subsidies for local and cross-boundary passenger transport trade under sixth round of Anti-epidemic Fund

     Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary social distancing measures, the daily operation of local and cross-boundary passenger transport has been seriously affected. To assist the trade in coping with the operating pressure in the current economic environment, the following subsides will be provided to the transport trades under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF):
 
1. Local non-franchised public buses, school private light buses, local hire cars, cross-boundary coaches (including port shuttle buses) and cross-boundary hire cars 

     A one-off non-accountable subsidy of $30,000 per vehicle will be provided to each eligible registered owner of local non-franchised public buses, school private light buses, local hire cars, cross-boundary coaches and cross-boundary hire cars. The Transport Department (TD) has issued letters to inform all eligible registered owners of the above-mentioned vehicles of the detailed arrangements for the subsidy. The deadline for application is June 30, 2022. After the TD has verified the submission, the subsidy will be disbursed through autopay in about one to two months.
 
2. Taxis and red minibuses 

     A one-off non-accountable subsidy of $30,000 per vehicle will be provided to each eligible registered owner of taxis and red minibuses. The TD has started issuing letters today to inform all eligible registered owners of taxis and red minibuses of the detailed arrangements for registration through an electronic platform for the subsidy. After the TD has verified the submission, the subsidy will be disbursed through autopay in about one to two months.
 
3. Green minibuses 

     A one-off non-accountable subsidy of $30,000 per vehicle will be provided to holders of Passenger Service Licence – Public Light Bus (Scheduled) Service (PSL). As of March 31, the TD has received 159 applications (around 97 per cent of PSL holders), involving 3 188 green minibuses. The TD has commenced the disbursement of the subsidy to the PSL holders of verified applications.
 
4. Kaitos 

     A one-off non-accountable subsidy of $20,000 per vessel deployed in kaito service will be provided to each eligible kaito operator. The TD has started issuing letters to inform all kaito operators of the detailed arrangements for the subsidy.
 
5. Cross-boundary ferries (CBFs) 

     A one-off non-accountable subsidy of $500,000 per ferry will be provided to the operator of each eligible CBF. The Marine Department (MD) has issued notification letters to each of the eligible CBF operators on the detailed arrangements for the subsidy and will start disbursing the subsidy after verifying the submissions from eligible operators.
 
     For details on the application arrangements and eligibility regarding subsidy items (1) to (4) above, please visit the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk), or email to oneoffsubsidy@td.gov.hk for enquiries. For enquiries relating to subsidy item (5) above, please contact the MD by email at sasmft@mardep.gov.hk or by phone at 2547 1312.

     The details of disbursement arrangements of fuel subsidy for public light buses and taxis will be announced later.