The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (February 18) announced the details of the Dishware Washing Trade Subsidy Scheme under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF). Applications for the scheme will commence next Monday (February 21) to provide relief assistance to the dishware washing trade hard hit by the COVID-19 epidemic. 

     An FEHD spokesman said, "Under the Dishware Washing Trade Subsidy Scheme, each eligible dishware washing operator in operation will be provided with a one-off subsidy of $80,000 or $150,000 according to its average monthly water consumption."
　　
     An applicant for the scheme is required to fulfil relevant criteria, including:
 
(a) the dishware washing premises concerned holds a valid business registration certificate issued under Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) in respect of the premises under application or documentation for the Section 88 documentation (for organisations exempted from tax under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112); and
(b) commercial automated dishwashing machine(s) has/have been installed on the dishware washing premises on or before December 31, 2021; and
(c) carries on a dishware washing business and provides dishware washing services to at least two food business customers; and
(d) provides at least one water bill issued by the Water Supplies Department in the last six months; and
(e) the dishware washing business is in operation on the date of submission of the application and on the date of approval of the application; and
(f) has not received any subsidy of the Catering Business Subsidy Scheme, the relief grants for providers of catering services for schools and post-secondary education institutions and providers of interest group and school bus services for schools or the Club-house Subsidy Scheme under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund; and
(g) 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.

     Eligible applicants should submit their applications online through the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk) starting from next Monday. The deadline for application is March 21. The spokesman reminded business operators that applications for the Catering Business Subsidy Scheme, the Food Courts Subsidy Scheme, the Commercial Bathhouse Licence Holder Subsidy Scheme and the Places of Public Entertainment Licence Holder Subsidy Scheme under the sixth round of the AEF, which have been announced earlier, will also commence next Monday. The FEHD will expedite the internal processing of the applications and disburse the subsidies as early as possible by crossed cheques to the corresponding premises upon receipt of the completed application forms and supporting documents, and after verification.
　　
     Details of the scheme will be uploaded to the website of the FEHD next Monday. For enquiries, please contact the Hygiene Section of the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the FEHD at 2867 5748 or 2867 5153.

Ends/Friday, February 18, 2022
Issued at HKT 20:07

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