​A Government spokesman said today (July 7) that disbursement of subsidy under the Subsidy Scheme for Beauty Parlours, Massage Establishments and Party Rooms (the Scheme) under the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund was in progress. Of the 14 000-plus applications received, the Government has already approved over 9 000 applications, involving about $370 million in subsidies.
The Government is now processing some 5 000 remaining applications, including applications from chain operators running multiple business premises or those involving applicants requesting to revise the reported number of workers. The Scheme's secretariat is carefully scrutinising these applications and will seek further information from the applicant and/or the practising accountant engaged by the applicant for verification if needed. Depending on progress, it is expected that the vetting work of the Scheme can be largely completed within this month.
During the vetting process, the secretariat referred individual suspected cases of fraud to the Police Force for follow-up as appropriate. The secretariat will fully assist in the relevant investigation.
Applicants can check the status of the processing of their application online at enquiry.bmpsubsidy.gov.hk. For other enquiries, applicants may call the telephone hotline (1836 188) during office hours (Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, except public holidays) or send an email to enquiry@bmpsubsidy.hk.
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