The Environment Bureau (ENB) announced today (May 31) that the second round of the Anti-epidemic Subsidy Scheme for the Laundry Trade under the Anti-epidemic Fund has been satisfactorily completed.
 
     The second round of the Scheme provides a one-off subsidy ranging from $10,000 to $150,000, depending on the scale of operation, to eligible operators providing laundry and dry cleaning services, with a view to supporting the laundry trade, which has been affected by the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic and tightened social distancing measures imposed by the Government.

     A spokesman for the ENB said that the Environmental Protection Department, which is in charge of implementing the Scheme, had been carrying out vetting upon receiving applications since March 4 this year. Within three months, the department approved 1 322 applications involving subsidies totalling $84 million, and has posted cheques to the approved applicants.
 
     "The laundry trade is grateful for the timely launch of the second round of the subsidy Scheme by the Government that helped the trade to relieve its imminent needs during this difficult time," the spokesman added.

     Following the completion of the vetting process, the Scheme's telephone service (3427 9848) will cease operation at 5pm on June 1. Laundry trade members with any questions on the Scheme may email them to laundry_subsidy@epd.gov.hk, which will continue to operate until June 30.

Ends/Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:00

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