The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau announced today (March 20) that it has approved the first two production lines under the Local Mask Production Subsidy Scheme.
 
     The applicant of the first approved production line is Topwill Passion Limited. The production line is expected to supply an average of 2 million masks to the Government every month starting from April 20, and produce a further 250 000 masks for the local market on average every month.
 
     The applicant of the second approved production line is Shang Manufactory Limited. The production line is expected to supply an average of 800 000 masks to the Government every month starting from May 5.
 
     Based on their committed production output, the above-mentioned production lines may receive subsidies of up to $2.5 million and $2 million respectively. The actual amount of each subsidy is contingent upon the actual expenditure for production equipment and setting up the venue and clean room facilities, as well as testing and standards compliance, and will be finalised when the expenditure is confirmed.
 
     The Scheme will provide subsidies to a maximum of 20 local production lines. Taking into account the two approved applications, there remains a subsidy quota of 18 production lines.     
 
     As of yesterday (March 19), the Scheme had attracted a total of 82 applications. Apart from the two approved applications above, five other applications, after verification, have been confirmed to have met all the five eligibility criteria of the Scheme and the Government will process them as soon as possible. 70 applications have yet to meet the eligibility criteria, while the eligibility of five applications is being verified.
 
     The Government launched the Scheme under the Anti-epidemic Fund to facilitate local production of masks as soon as possible to help address the imminent shortage as well as to build up stock. An applicant must be a company holding a valid Business Registration Certificate and a valid Certificate of Incorporation in Hong Kong and demonstrate that the following five eligibility criteria have been met:
 

• having the production equipment in Hong Kong;
• having the raw materials in Hong Kong;
• having already in place or rented the production venue in Hong Kong;
• having already in place, rented or hired a contractor to set up clean room facilities in Hong Kong; and
• each production line being able to produce at least 500 000 masks per month.

 
     The Government has engaged the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) to administer the Scheme. Details of the Scheme can be found at the HKPC's website: u.hkpc.org/mask. Companies interested in applying can contact the HKPC's hotline at 2788 6035 or email mask@hkpc.org.

Ends/Friday, March 20, 2020
Issued at HKT 9:00

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