Vehicle maintenance workshops to receive $50,000 subsidy

The regulator expects to accept applications starting mid-July.

Eligible vehicle maintenance workshops will be granted a one-off non-accountable subsidy of $50,000 to be covered by the anti-epidemic fund, according to a government announcement.

This is said to assist vehicle maintenance workshops in coping with the operating pressure under the pandemic.

Hong Kong’s Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) expects to accept applications starting mid-July. Eligible vehicle maintenance workshops can submit applications regardless of their registration status under the voluntary registration scheme for vehicle maintenance workshops of the EMSD.

Workshops wishing to apply for the subsidy must have operated a vehicle maintenance business in a fixed place on or before February 1, and maintain a business operation on the day of application. Applicants will also have to provide records of operation of the vehicle maintenance workshops during the period from February 1 to May 31.

However, the announcement notes that vehicle maintenance workshops that benefited from the retail sector subsidy scheme under the anti-epidemic fund will not be subsidised in this exercise.