The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department announced today that it is preparing to disburse the second-tranche subsidy under the Catering Business (Social Distancing) Subsidy Scheme to successful applicants.

Before receiving the second-tranche subsidy, successful applicants who received subsidies under the first tranche shall submit a duly signed notification to the department.

This is to confirm that they have submitted the monthly certificates for May to July this year issued by a pracitising certified public accountant.

The certificates serve as proof that there were no staff redundancies and at least 80% of the subsidy released was used to pay for salaries of workers at the premises in those months.

From August 13, applicants can submit the completed and duly signed notification online. The department will arrange for prompt disbursement of the second-tranche subsidy after verifying the information.

The scheme provides subsidies ranging from $250,000 to $2.2 million to eligible licence holders of general restaurants, light refreshment restaurants, marine restaurants and factory canteens in operation, according to the premises’ licensed floor area.

It aims to support payment of employee salaries in a six-month period from May to October this year.

Disbursement of subsidies ranging from $125,000 to $1.1 million began in June.