The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) is operating the Food Licence Holders Subsidy Scheme under the Anti-epidemic Fund. The Scheme is now open to applications from eligible food licence holders for a grant of one-off subsidy.  A one-off subsidy of $200,000 will be provided to eligible licence holders of the premises in operation including general restaurants, marine restaurants and factory canteens; and a subsidy of $80,000 will be provided to eligible licence holders of the premises in operation including light refreshment restaurants, fresh provision shops, food factories, bakeries and siu mei and lo mei shops.

The application period and procedures are set out below:

Eligibility

The applicant should hold a valid General Restaurant, Marine Restaurant, Factory Canteen, Light Refreshment Restaurant, Fresh Provision Shop, Food Factory, Bakery or Siu Mei and Lo Mei Shop Licence (full or provisional licence) issued by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene under the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X) on or before 14 February 2020. The details are as follows:

1. To apply for the subsidy, an applicant is required to fulfil the following criteria:

1. the applicant holds a valid food business licence (full or provisional licence) of any one of the eight targeted categories issued by the FEHD on or before 14 February 2020; AND

2. the licensed food premises is in operation on the date of submission of the application; AND

3. no application for transfer, voluntary surrender or cancellation of licence in respect of the licensed food premises is under processing in the period from the date of submission of the application to the date of approval of the application; AND

4. the applicant holds the related valid licence in (a) above on the date of approval of the application (if the application for subsidy is submitted in respect of a provisional licence and the validity period of the provisional licence on the date of submission of application is less than one month, the related full licence has to be obtained either before the expiry of the provisional licence or close of application for the subsidy).

2. As an exceptional arrangement, an applicant did not hold a related valid licence on 14 February 2020 may apply for the subsidy, provided that:
   1. where an application for transfer of licence was made on or before 14 February 2020:
      
      1. the applicant is an approved transferee and the application for transfer was approved after 14 February 2020; AND
      2. no subsidy has been granted by the FEHD to the original licence holder in respect of the concerned licence under the Subsidy Scheme; AND
      3. the applicant meets the criteria in items 1(b), 1(c) and 1(d) above.
   2. where a provisional licence held by the applicant in respect of the same premises has, irrespective of the expiry date, expired:
      1. the applicant is successful in obtaining a full licence before close of application for the subsidy; AND
      2. the applicant meets the criteria in items 1(b), 1(c) and 1(d) above.

Means of Application

• Obtaining Application Forms

  During the application period, eligible applicants may download the application form from the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk) or apply online.  Alternatively, they may obtain the form in person at District Environmental Hygiene Offices (DEHOs) during office hours.

  • Notes on filling in and submission of application forms

    Before completing the application form, please read carefully the form, the application criteria and the notes therein.

• Submission of Application Forms
  • Completed application forms should be submitted within the application period by the following means:
    1. By online application:
    2. Return the application form by post to the DEHO in the district where the licensed premises are located; or
    3. Submit the application form in person to the DEHO in the district where the licensed premises are located.

       The opening hours of District Environmental Hygiene Offices are as follow : Monday to Friday： 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays Addresses and Telephone Numbers of District Environmental Hygiene Offices

  • An applicant may submit only one application form for each licensed premises.  The provision of personal data in the application form is voluntary.  Duplicate applications will not be processed.  An application will not be accepted if the prescribed form is not used or applicants tender late submission or provide insufficient or incorrect information.
  • The application form shall be submitted before 5:00 p.m. on 4 May 2020.  For applications by post, the date of application will be determined according to the postmark date.  Late submissions will not be accepted.

Processing of Application

• FEHD will in general issue an acknowledgement of receipt of application to the applicants upon receipt of applications.  No matter the application is submitted by post, in person or online, FEHD will make use of the local mobile phone number entered or inputted in the application form to issue acknowledgment of receipt of application and provide the relevant application number through SMS.  No acknowledgement and notification of application number through SMS will be made if a local mobile phone number is not provided.
• Applications will be processed and approved by the FEHD in the order they are received.  Upon approval, each eligible food licence holder will receive a grant of one-off subsidy.  The subsidy will be released to the licensee by a crossed cheque and by post to the address of the licensed premises.

Other Points to Note

• No fee is payable for obtaining or submitting application forms.
• FEHD has not entrusted any organisations/persons to receive/process applications or assist in the submission of applications.  No privilege will be accorded to any individuals.
• Applicants, while having dealings of any kind with the FEHD, should not offer any advantage to the FEHD officers.
• FEHD will only issue subsidy once for each licence (if a full licence is subsequently issued after the provisional licence held by the applicant, both licences shall be considered as the same licence).