The Government has launched earlier the second round of the subsidy scheme for the promotion of contactless payment in public markets under the Anti-epidemic Fund, and extended the scope to cover licensed hawkers. A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 31) encouraged eligible tenants of public market stalls and licensed hawkers to apply for the subsidy, and reminded them to submit applications before the deadline at 5pm, June 30.

     The FEHD conducted a series of publicity and promotional activities to appeal to market stall tenants and licensed hawkers to use the contactless payment method for transactions, including distribution of leaflets to market stall tenants at Wan Chai Market and Fa Yuen Street Market, licensed hawkers at Tai Yuen Street and Cross Street hawker areas in Wan Chai, Fa Yuen Street hawker area in Mong Kok, Temple Street and Bowring Street hawker areas in Yau Tsim, as well as Apliu Street, Pei Ho Street and Kweilin Street hawker areas in Sham Shui Po. FEHD representatives also exchanged views with the tenants and hawkers on the issue, answered their related enquiries and reiterated that the use of contactless payment could reduce cash exchanges, thereby enhancing public hygiene and reducing the risk of virus transmission.

     The FEHD also organised a briefing session at the end of April to introduce and promote the contactless payment method to representatives of hawker associations, and facilitated direct communication between service providers and the trade, so that the trade could have a better understanding of various service plans. In addition, the FEHD worked with the trade representatives to hold an exchange session in Sham Shui Po and set up street counters at the Mong Kok Cooked Food Market as well as fixed-pitch hawker areas at Tung Choi Street and Temple Street in mid-May to address enquires of market stall tenants and licensed hawkers and assist them to apply for the subsidy under the scheme on site. 

     The FEHD spokesman said, "A one-off subsidy is provided to eligible tenants of FEHD market stalls (including cooked food stalls) and licensed hawkers at a flat rate of $5,000 for use to meet the initial set-up costs as well as service and other fees in relation to the provision of at least one contactless payment means, which would be processed through a licensed bank or a stored value facility licensee regulated by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, or a debit/credit card scheme, for customers. The subsidy scheme is expected to benefit about 9 000 stall tenants in FEHD markets and 5 700 licensed hawkers."

     Tenants and licensed hawkers are required to submit an application to the FEHD and obtain approval in principle before signing a service contract with a service provider in relation to the provision of at least one contactless payment means, and the tenants and hawkers have to produce a valid service contract of no less than a duration of two years signed by them. The FEHD will conduct inspections to ensure completion of installation before disbursing the subsidy.

     The FEHD spokesman appealed again to eligible tenants of public market stalls and licensed hawkers to participate in the scheme, calling on those who wish to apply for the subsidy to obtain application forms from District Environmental Hygiene Offices of the FEHD and submit their applications on or before June 30. 

Ends/Monday, May 31, 2021
Issued at HKT 19:53

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