More than 110,000 merchants launched over 20 measures to benefit from Hong Kong's anti-epidemic fund brings "timely rain" to various industries

The new crown virus is raging around the world, and many industries in Hong Kong have been affected. As early as February, the SAR government quickly moved to set up a HK $ 30 billion epidemic prevention and anti-epidemic fund and launched 24 measures to provide assistance to enterprises and citizens affected by the epidemic. The measures are expected to benefit more than 110,000 businesses, 200,000 families and 1.47 million person-times. At present, more than 20 measures have been launched, with a total amount of about 5 billion Hong Kong dollars. These funds have been released to enterprises and individuals in need.

Helping the Catering Industry Tide Through

The outbreak of new crown pneumonia was just before the Spring Festival, which was a golden period for food and beverage consumption. Chen Zhaoshi, the director of the Hong Kong Food and Health Bureau, said that the epidemic directly impacted Hong Kong's catering industry, hawker industry and live sea fish wholesale industry that mainly supplies restaurants. Shopping interest has also diminished, and the industry looks forward to government funding.

Chen Zhaoshi introduced that the catering industry mainly uses one-off funding for relief. Qualified and operating licensees of ordinary restaurants, floating restaurants and factory canteens will receive a one-time HK $ 200,000 grant, while licensees of light refreshment restaurants, fresh provision shops, food factories and lo-mei shops will With a one-time funding of HK $ 80,000, licensed hawkers receive a one-time funding of HK $ 5,000. Chen Zhaoshi expects that the funding scheme will benefit about 28,000 restaurants and about 5,500 licensed hawkers, respectively, and the funding involved will exceed HK $ 3.8 billion.

As of March 18, the FEHD has received 24013 applications for food industry-specific funding schemes and 4,751 applications for licensed hawker funding schemes. Of the two funding schemes, 7337 and 2536 applications have been approved and approved for payment, respectively. , Involving a total of more than 1 billion Hong Kong dollars in funding. The Hong Kong Fisheries and Conservation Department also received 715 and 66 applications from fishing or fishing boat owners and live marine fish distributors, respectively, and about 110 and 35 applications from boat owners and distributors, respectively. The applications involved a total of about HK $ 24 million in funding.

Funding retailers

In response to the need for epidemic prevention and control, Hong Kong has implemented compulsory quarantine on visitors from different places and closed multiple flights. The number of visitors to Hong Kong has dropped significantly. Data show that in January 2020, there were approximately 3.2 million visitors to Hong Kong, a decrease of 53% year-on-year. It is estimated that the number of visitors to Hong Kong in February fell even more, only 199,000, a decrease of 96% year-on-year.

The Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Zhang Jianzong, said that the rapid decline in tourist numbers has brought a huge impact on the retail industry and made the business environment difficult. Therefore, the SAR Government ’s Anti-epidemic Fund will provide “timely rain” to retailers affected by the epidemic, helping them to get out of their predicament.

The anti-epidemic fund allocated a total of HK $ 5.6 billion to the retail industry, which is expected to benefit about 70,000 retail stores. Each eligible retailer can receive a one-time subsidy of 80,000 yuan, and a retail group or chain of retail stores can receive a maximum of HK $ 3 million. Zhang Jianzong said that in order to allow retailers to obtain funding as quickly as possible, the full-service self-service online system is used for funding. Eligible retailers only need to upload their valid documents and bills to complete the application and wait for assistance.

Mr. Shao Jiahui, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council's wholesale and retail sector, said that he believes that these measures can help the industry out of the predicament. He suggested "faster than slower" and "faster than tight. Shao Jiahui believes that the bulk of the funding pressure in the retail industry lies in store rents and employee salaries. If HK $ 5.6 billion is not enough, the government can apply to the Legislative Council for funding.

Maintain "international aviation hub" status

The aviation industry is an important force for Hong Kong's economic development. However, due to the impact of the epidemic, the global aviation industry is struggling to operate, and Hong Kong will inevitably be affected. The International Air Transport Association predicts that the global aviation industry may lose $ 113 billion in revenue this year.

In the case of passenger and freight services being affected by the epidemic, the SAR government stated that it is even more difficult to maintain Hong Kong's competitiveness as an "international aviation hub" in difficult times. The SAR Government, together with the Hong Kong Airport Authority, has launched a series of relief measures, hoping to face the challenges and overcome the difficulties with the airport industry.

These relief measures involve funding of 1 billion Hong Kong dollars. Of this amount, HK $ 670 million is the government's exemption from the AA of air traffic control fees for the years 2019 to 2020. This amount will be used to support the airport industry in full. The remaining HK $ 330 million was funded by the AA to provide direct support to the aviation industry, including further rent reductions for airport shops and restaurants. To show concern for airport employees, front-line airport employees who receive training during unpaid leave will receive training allowances. In total, it is expected to benefit more than 400 airlines, aviation logistics companies, airport retailers, restaurants and airport employees.

In addition, Ye Weiming, secretary general of the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Staff Union, also suggested that the SAR Government could provide airport employees with cash allowances or issue consumer vouchers for employees to use at the airport, while stimulating airport business economy.

Literary and art circles funding started

The epidemic also caused a direct impact on Hong Kong's literary and art circles. The Hong Kong Arts Festival, which was supposed to be held in February and March, cancelled more than 120 performances based on the safety and health of artists and audiences. "We hope that the community can recover as soon as possible and work together to support the performing arts industry to overcome the difficulties," said He Jiakun, the executive director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival.

Therefore, HK $ 150 million in the Hong Kong Anti-epidemic Fund is dedicated to supporting various performing arts groups, museums and freelance workers in the arts and cultural circles. According to the Hong Kong Home Affairs Bureau, the first batch of funding has been successfully released. The recipients are the venue partner arts troupe of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Home Affairs Bureau's Arts Ability Development Funding Scheme group and the Maritime Museum. In addition, 40 groups funded by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council have each issued HK $ 80,000. This month, the Home Affairs Bureau will also begin to arrange for the granting of subsidies to nine major performing arts groups in Hong Kong to pay the salaries of employees, contractors and freelance workers.

In terms of medical treatment, HK $ 4.7 billion in the Epidemic Prevention Fund was specifically granted to the Hong Kong Hospital Authority for additional protective equipment purchases, additional staffing expenses for frontline staff, and strengthening Hong Kong's frontline anti-epidemic forces.

In terms of education, in order to reduce the burden on parents, the Epidemic Resistance Foundation provides an additional allowance of HK $ 1,000 to each student receiving the student allowance for the 2019-2020 school year. The total additional expenditure is about HK $ 900 million, benefiting about 900,000 students.

Zhang Jianzong said that the anti-epidemic fund is huge, covering a wide range and benefiting a large number of people, which fully shows the determination of the government and all sectors of the community to fight the epidemic and cope with the difficult times. The SAR Government will continue to closely monitor the development of the epidemic, assess the impact of the epidemic on society, listen to expert opinions and consider the actual situation in Hong Kong, and will not hesitate to introduce necessary measures.

Wang Lingxi