PRESS RELEASE

Government responds to media enquiries on Retail Sector Subsidy Scheme

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     In response to media enquiries on the requirement on the nature of business stated in the business registration certificate for the purpose of the Retail Sector Subsidy Scheme (the Scheme) under the Anti-epidemic Fund, the Government today (March 31) gave the following reply:
 
      The Government launched the Scheme under the Anti-epidemic Fund to provide relief to retailers hard hit by the coronavirus epidemic. The Scheme requires that applicants should be conducting a substantial and substantive retail business and that their business should have commenced before January 1 this year. As at 6pm today, nearly 60 000 applications have been received under the Scheme.
 
      During the vetting process, the Government will examine the business registration certificates and other supporting documents submitted by the applicants, such as a recent photograph of the shop front, a Mandatory Provident Fund contributions statement, a rental receipt and a water or electricity bill to consider whether an application is eligible in a holistic manner having regard to the circumstances of individual cases. The Government will not make a decision solely on the basis of the nature of business as stated in the business registration certificate.
 
      In addition, the Government will verify the business registration information submitted by the applicants with the administrative records from the Business Registration Office. If the relevant business registration information was revised recently, the Government may request the applicants to submit additional information and documents to facilitate consideration of the application. The Government cautions that if any person has purposely provided false or misleading information with an intention to obtain the subsidy, the case may be referred to law enforcement agencies for investigation and follow-up.       
 
      For enquiries concerning details and application procedure of the Scheme, applicants can call the telephone hotline (1836 111) or email to enquiry@retailsubsidy.hk. The deadline for application submission is April 12.
 

Ends/Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Issued at HKT 19:15

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