Services Support Fund

A $50 million fund to increase the competitiveness of Hong Kong's service industries.

The Government has recently set up a Services Support Fund to provide financial support for projects which are beneficial to the overall development of Hong Kong as a service centre or which contribute to the further development of one or more service sectors, such as by enhancing international competitiveness or domestic capacity for production. The fund is administrated by the Industry Department, upon the advice of the Vetting Committee of the Fund.

As an organisation committed to promoting the interests of Hong Kong's service sector, the Hong Kong Coalition of Service Industries supports the Fund and we urge other service sector organisations to submit applications to carry out service support projects.

Who can apply?

Four main types of organisation are eligible:

• services-support bodies
• trade and industry associations
• higher education institutions
• professional bodies and research institutes

However, in exceptional circumstances, applications from locally incorporated companies may also be considered if the applicants can demonstrate that their projects will bring benefits to the service industry that go beyond the interests of individual enterprises.

What kind of Projects?

Projects to be funded should be able to contribute to the overall development and the competitiveness of Hong Kong's service industry. Examples of projects are those which aim to increase productivity or enhance the infrastructural support to the service industry.

Projects to be funded should be non-profit making in nature, except for the purpose of the project's long-term self-sufficiency.

How to apply?

Applicants have to fill out an application form which can be obtained from the Service Support Fund Secretariat. Each applicant can submit more than one application. No application fee is charged. All applications will be considered by the Vetting Committee which makes recommendations to the Director-General of Industry on whether the applications should be supported and, if so, on the terms and conditions of funding support. The first batch approved projects will be announced in March or April 1997.

More information can be obtained from the Service Support Fund Secretariat, Room 1445, 14/F., Ocean Centre, 5 Canton Road, Kowloon. (Tel: 27372206, Fax: 23770730).

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