Application for Fourth Round of the Anti-epidemic Fund - Catering Business Subsidy Scheme (Liquor Licensed Premises (with Bar Endorsement) / Karaoke Establishment / Nightclub with Restaurant Licence)

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has established the further subsidy to Catering Business Subsidy Scheme (Liquor Licensed Premises (with Bar Endorsement) / Karaoke Establishment / Nightclub with Restaurant Licence) under the Fourth Round of the Anti-epidemic Fund and is now accepting applications. A one-off single subsidy will be provided to eligible licence/permit holders of the premises in operation including Liquor Licensed Premises (with Bar Endorsement), Karaoke Establishment, Nightclub with Restaurant Licence according to the approved floor area of the licensed/permitted premises, as set out in the table below.

Licensed Area of the Premises*	Level of subsidy (HK Dollar)
Not exceeding 100m²	$100,000
>100m² - 200m²	$200,000
>200m² - 400m²	$300,000
>400m² - 700m²	$400,000
>700m²	$500,000

* the same premises where the bars/pubs, nightclubs and/or Karaoke Establishments are operated concurrently

Applicant shall be either one of the licensees or permittee of who is nominated by the other licensees/permittee of Liquor Licensed Premises (with Bar Endorsement), Karaoke Establishment, Nightclub with Restaurant Licence of the same premises as the payee of this further one-off single subsidy.

The application period and procedures are set out below:

Application Period:	9:00 a.m., 28 April 2021 (Wednesday) to 5:00 p.m., 27 May 2021 (Thursday)

Eligibility

An applicant is required to fulfil the following criteria:
2. the whole premises have been closed for the entire period specified in the directions issued under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F)^{[Note 1]}; AND
3. for an application lodged in respect of premises involving more than one licence/permit, the applicant is nominated by all licence/permit holders to apply for and receive the subsidy; AND
4. the related licence or permit (Liquor Licensed Premises (with Bar Endorsement), Karaoke Establishment, Nightclub with Restaurant Licence including general restaurant / light refreshment restaurant / marine restaurant) is in operation on the date of submission of the application and on the date of approval of the application; AND
5. no application for transfer, voluntary surrender or cancellation of licence or permit, as the case may be, in respect of the licensed premises is under processing in the period from the date of submission to the date of approval of the application; AND
6. on the date of approval of the application, the applicant is still holding a valid licence / permit (Liquor Licensed Premises (with Bar Endorsement), Karaoke Establishment, Nightclub with Restaurant Licence including general restaurant / light refreshment restaurant / marine restaurant), as the case may be; AND
7. the applicant is not subject to any bankruptcy or winding up procedure/proceedings/order at the time of the application and thereafter up to the grant of subsidy.
As an exceptional arrangement, an applicant not holding a valid restaurant licence/liquor licence (with bar endorsement) on 26 November 2020, or a valid karaoke establishment permit on 2 December 2020, may apply for the subsidy, provided that:
1. In case of transfer of licence/permit–
  1. The application for transfer was made on or before 25 November 2020 or 1 December 2020, as the case may be; AND
  2. The application was approved after 25 November 2020 or 1 December 2020, as the case may be, and the applicant is the approved transferee; AND
  3. no subsidy has been granted by the FEHD under the Subsidy Scheme to the original licence/permit holder in respect of the licence/permit transferred; AND
  4. the applicant meets the eligibility criteria in items 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f and 1g above.
2. in the case of a provisional licence/permit held by the applicant in respect of the same premises which has, irrespective of the expiry date, expired –
  1. the applicant is successful in obtaining a full licence/permit before close of application for the subsidy (i.e. 27 May 2021); AND
  2. the applicant meets the eligibility criteria in items 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f and 1g above.

^{[Note 1]}: In accordance with the directions issued under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F), premises (commonly known as bar or pub) that is exclusively or mainly used for the sale or supply of intoxicating liquors as defined in section 53(1) of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109) ("intoxicating liquors") for consumption in that premises and establishment (commonly known as club or nightclub) that is open late into the night, usually for drinking and dancing or other entertainment must be closed from 26 November 2020 to 28 April 2021 and karaoke establishments must be closed from 2 December 2020 to 28 April 2021. This period may be extended subject to any further directions issued by the Secretary for Food and Health.

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). Alternatively, they may obtain the form in person at Licensing Offices 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.
  
  If the licensee of the food business licence is not the operator the food business conducted at the above licensed premises, the applicant shall submit a declaration signed by the operator or one of the operators of the food business at the licensed premises declaring his/her support for the licensee to apply for the subsidy and a copy of Business Registration Certificate in respect of the catering business at that licensed premises should be attached.

Submission of Application Forms

Completed application forms should be submitted within the application period by the following means:

Return the application form by post to the respective Licensing Offices where the licensed/permitted premises are located; or

Submit the application form in person to the respective Licensing Offices where the licensed/permitted premises are located.

The opening hours of Licensing 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 Licensing Offices

An applicant may submit only one application form in respect of the same licensed premises rather than multiple subsidies in respect of the bar/pubs, nightclubs and/or karaoke establishment business operated on the same premises. The provision of personal data in the application form is voluntary. Multiple 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 27 May 2021. 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 or in person, 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.

Release of Subsidy

On approval, each applicant will receive a one-off single subsidy in accordance with the licensed area of the premises, provided that he/she is not subject to any bankruptcy or winding up procedure/proceedings/order when the subsidy is to be granted.
The subsidy released will be sent to the applicant by a crossed cheque by post to the address of the licensed restaurant according to the record of the FEHD.

Other Points to Note

Applicant is required to indicate on application form whether the catering business at the licensed premises is operated by the licensee and provide the required document as appropriate.
FEHD will only issue one-off single subsidy in respect of the same licensed premises rather than multiple subsidies in respect of the bar/pubs, nightclubs and/or karaoke establishment business operated on the same premises.
The Government reserves the right to take appropriate action, including but not limited to refusing an application for subsidy or revoking any approval given and recovering any subsidy granted and all related expenses incurred if false information is given, false declaration is made, or there is a breach of Cap. 599F or the directions issued thereunder or the licensing conditions of the relevant food business licence.
It is an offence under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Cap. 201) to offer advantages to government officers in relation to their official duties.
Applicants may be required to attend an interview and provide documentary proof for the continuing operation of the food business.
No fee is payable for obtaining or submitting an Application Form.
For enquiry, please visit FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk) or contact respective Licensing Offices.
The FEHD has not entrusted any organisations/persons to receive/process applications or assist in the submission of applications.

Enquiries

For enquiries, please contact Catering Business Subsidy Scheme (Liquor Licensed Premises (with Bar Endorsement) / Karaoke Establishment / Nightclub with Restaurant Licence) Hotline at 2958 0694 or 2867 5153.