CentreO Blog

The Legislative Council Finance Committee approved on 18 April 2020 a financial relief package of $137.5 billion. The Anti-epidemic Fund therefore rolled out the second round of measures for business as follows:

Firstly, Job retention, Job creation and Job advancement

• Government to pay 1.5 million workers 50% of their wages, capped at HK$9,000 a month for 6 months. First disbursement will be on June 2020.
• Provide support to employers in the catering, construction and transport (mainly taxi and red minibus drivers) sectors which are not completely covered by the MPF scheme (involving about 800 000 persons)
• Grant a one-off subsidy to self-employed persons who made MPF contributions (about 215 000 persons)
• Temporarily relax the asset limits of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme: To provide a time limited unemployment support scheme through CSSA Scheme. The asset limits for an able-bodied applicant will be increased by 100% for a period of 6 months.
• To invest $6 billion to create around 30 000 time-limited jobs (up to 12 months) in the public and private sectors in the coming two years for people of different skill sets and academic qualifications, benefitting professionals and technicians, fresh graduates, middle level and grassroots workers.
• A HK$800 million scheme to let workers learn new skills or let businesses apply more technology.

Secondly, Relief to hard-hit sectors

1. Tutorial schools;
2. Service providers and suppliers for schools;
3. Registered coach under National Sports Associations and Sports Organisations
4. Instructor of interests classes for organisations subvented by the Social Welfare Department;
5. Private refuse collector;
6. Local farm and agricultural producer;
7. Exchange participants and Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) licensed individuals;
8. Licensed individuals of the estate agency sector;
9. Passenger transport sector
10. Creative industries
11. Tourism industry
12. Construction sector
13. Non-profit-making organisations (NPOs) running the Projects under the Revitalising Historic Building Saviation sector
14. Catering sector
15. In additional to above, the 11 Sectors are closed due to the measures for safeguarding public health imposed by the Government

Thirdly, Easing the cash flow and burden of businesses and individuals

• Rental and Fee Concessions for Government Premises
• Enhancing the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme
• Deadline for payment of tax for year of assessment 2018/19 that will be falling due will be extended for 3 months
• All borrowing institutions and non-profit-making international schools have the two-year loan repayment holiday
• Student loan repayers concerned to inform them of the two-year loan repayment holiday
• To extend the 75% waiver of water and sewage charges payable by non-domestic accounts for another four months from August to November 2020
• To waive the registration/enrolment fees for healthcare professionals for three years
• MTR to provide a 20% fare reduction for a time-limited period of 6 months start from 1 July, 2020.
• To temporarily relax the monthly public transport expense threshold of the PTFSS from $400 to $200 for a time-limited period of 6 months start from 1 July, 2020.

For further information, please contact us

You may want to read: https://centreo.hk/hk137-5-billion-financial-relief-hong-kong-smes/

On 2nd of May morning,  the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) held a Webinar. ITC announced the application details for IT Service Providers Reference List for the Distance Business (D-Biz) Programme for enrolment.

 

Overview and Objectives of D-Biz Programme

Remote working or service has become a new trend against the backdrop of the epidemic. Under the Anti-Epidemic Fund, ITC has launched D-Biz Programme to support enterprises to continue their business and services during the epidemic. B-Biz Programme provides funding support through fast-track processing for enterprises to adopt IT solutions for developing distance business. The Hong Kong Productivity Council is the Secretariat of the Programme.

 

Funding Amount

For each IT solution and the relevant training expenses for the employees, the funding ceiling is HK$100,000. (With funding for the relevant training expenses capped at 10 per cent of the IT solution cost). Each enterprise may receive total funding of up to HK$300,000 to undertake a project to be completed within 6 months.

 

After the approval of the application, an enterprise will receive 30% of the funding amount. Upon completion of the project, the enterprise needs to submit the supporting documents. When ITC accepted the document, the remaining funding amount will be disbursed to the enterprise.

 

Funding Scope

• The Programme covers 12 categories of IT solutions for distance business. With a view to supporting enterprises to continue business and services during the epidemic.
• IT solution(s) must only be implemented after approval is granted.

The list of distance business IT solutions cover:

1. Online business

• For the company to establish a web portal, mobile app or other online channels. With aims to promote its goods and services, by using either subscription-based or custom-built e-commerce platform, including development and management.
• Enable consumers to place orders over the Internet.
• Promote such online portal through search engine promotion, digital advertisement such as social media promotion, e-coupon, loyalty programme, etc.
• Excluding production of promotion materials, contents or assets (e.g. image, text and video etc. as part of the marketing and promotion materials)

2. Online order taking and delivery, and smart self-service systems

• For the company to establish a web portal, mobile app or other online channels. Or for consumers to place orders of goods or services, by using either subscription-based or custom-built e-commerce platform, including development and management.
• Such adoption of technologies should enable the company to perform end-to-end order placement and delivery to designated locations, by using e.g. smart self-servicing system, smart kiosk, smart vending machine, smart lockers, or with integration to e-logistics provider platform.
• Suitable but not limited to industries that are acquiring or promoting self-services, such as takeaway services in Food & Beverages industries.
• Promote such online portal through search engine promotion, digital advertisement such as social media promotion, e-coupon, loyalty programme, etc.
• Excluding production of promotion materials, contents or assets (e.g. image, text and video etc. as part of the marketing and promotion materials)

3. Online customer services and engagement

• For the company to enable order placements of services to take place over the Internet, such as reservations, appointment bookings, including development and management
• Such adoption of technologies can also include distance learning facilities
• Promote such online portal through search engine promotion, digital advertisement such as social media promotion, e-coupon, loyalty programme, etc.
• Excluding production of promotion materials, contents or assets (e.g. image, text and video etc. as part of the marketing and promotion materials)

4. Digital customer experience enhancement

For the company to improve customer service experience and engagement with use of various technologies, including but not limited to the following:

• Round-the-clock customer service support via Chatbot
• Uplift product or service experience with use of Augmented Reality (AR) / Virtual Reality (VR) or Mixed Reality (MR) technologies or Digital Twin technology
• Apply analytics to improve customer experience such as purchasing data

5. Digital payment / mobile point of sale

• Enable online / physical stores with multiple digital payment channels, e.g. payment gateway or mobile Point-of-Sales (POS)
• Including one-time setup and associated hardware / equipment
• Excluding the handling fee or equivalent of each payment transaction

6. Online / cloud-based financial management systems

Adopt computerised system to manage the financial related processes of the company, including but not limited to:

• Invoicing and bill collection, accounting and budget planning, asset and liabilities management, regulatory compliance, reporting
• System could be cloud-based or accessible remotely by staff with appropriate cybersecurity protections

7. Online / cloud-based human resources management systems

Adopt computerised system to manage the human resources related processes of the company, including but not limited to:

• Payroll and expense reimbursement, attendance and leave records, training, reporting
• System could be cloud-based or accessible remotely by staff with appropriate cybersecurity protections

8. Remote document management, cloud storage and remote access services

• Digitise hard copy document into electronic format and store on cloud storage
• Enable staff to access the company information, data and system remotely with solutions such as remote desktop control, Virtual Private Network (VPN), Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

9. Virtual meeting and conference tools

Adopt tools to allow groups of people to collaborate or meet virtually through the Internet with the following functions but not limited to:

• Support both audio and video communication, content sharing, manage appointments and registrations, meeting recordings, online polling and Q&A

10. Virtual team management and communications

Adopt tools to allow groups of people to collaborate or communicate virtually through the Internet with the following functions but not limited to:

• Instant messaging, video and voice calls, document sharing and co-authoring / concurrent editing, task assignment, progress monitoring and collaborative product development

11. Cybersecurity solutions

• Improve the cybersecurity of the companies by implementing software, hardware or services to defend against cyber attacks
• Solution examples include but not limited to data encryption, firewall, anti-virus / malware solutions

12. Other online / custom-built / cloud-based business support systems

• Other solutions, either off-the-shelf or custom-built, that support the programme objectives of enabling enterprises to conduct and continue business remotely but do not fit into the above categories
• Solution examples include but not limited to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), e-application form and approval workflow, Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

 

Eligibility 

To Enroll on the Reference List, a Service Provider should possess a valid Business Registration Certificate and relevant technical capability and experience.

 

Application Period

Starting on 4 May 2020 at 9 am

For further information, please contact us.

You may want to read: https://centreo.hk/distance-business-programme/

The novel coronavirus epidemic has brought exceptional challenges to Hong Kong. The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W. Yang, announced that the Innovation and Technology Bureau will allocate HKD$500 million to launch a Distance Business ( D-Biz) Programme Anti-epidemic Fund. In order to support local enterprises to continue their business and services through adoption of IT solutions during the epidemic. 

Overview and Objectives

Remote working or service has become a new trend against the backdrop of the epidemic. The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) has launched the D-Biz Programme to support enterprises through the adoption of IT solutions. The Hong Kong Productivity Council is appointed as the Secretariat. 

Funding Amount

The D-Biz Programme will provide 100% funding support to qualified enterprises, subject to a cap of HK$100,000 per IT solution (related training expenses to be capped at 10% of solution cost) and HK$300,000 per enterprise. An initial payment of 30% of the approved funding amount is payable to a designated bank account after the application has been approved.

Funding Scope

To facilitate enterprises to identify suitable IT solutions, we will provide Lists of IT Solutions and IT Service Providers for their reference, with a view to expediting processing time and benefiting the enterprises as soon as possible.

The List of IT Solutions will cover 13 categories of IT solutions for supporting distance business.

Examples of Distance Business Funding Scope on Online and Digitalise on

1. E-shop
2. Order taking & delivery, smart self-service system online (such as online food ordering & delivery solution, smart lockers, smart kiosk, smart vending machine, etc.)
3. Customer services online & engagement (such as online ticketing, online booking system, CRM , virtual service delivery, online medical consultation etc.)
4. Customer experience enhancement (such as Chatbot, AI, AR / VR, Customer Analytics, etc.)
5. Online marketing
6. Digital payment / mobile POS
7. Cloud / Online based Financial management system (such as electronic invoicing system)
8. Human resources management system online or cloud based (such as electronic payroll system, employee self-service portal, talent management, online training system, online & location based attendance / clocking monitoring and reporting, employee leave management, employee reimbursement handling system, etc.)
9. Remote document management and cloud storage (such as shared drive) and remote access services (such as remote desktop control, Virtual Private Network, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure)
10. Virtual meeting & conference tool
11. Virtual team management & communications (such as collaboration tool, instant messaging platform, etc.)
12. Cybersecurity solutions (such as firewall, anti-virus / malware solution, etc.)
13. Other Online / cloud based business support system (such as ERP, e-application form and approval workflow, robotic process automation, etc.)

Eligibility

All private enterprises (except listed companies, statutory bodies and NGOs funded by the Government), are eligible to apply. Qualified enterprise must have valid Business Registration Certificate with business commenced before 1 January 2020 and have substantive business operation in the related industry at the time of application.

Application Period

This Programme is open for application from 4 May to 31 October 2020 for a period of 6 months.

Think, everyone feels exciting of the D-Biz Programme. For the application and assessment procedure, we still need to wait for the official announcement.

For further information, please contact us.

 You may want to read: http://centreo.hk/hk137-5-billion-financial-relief-hong-kong-smes/