PASS homepage Professionals Participation Subsidy Programme FAQs

FAQs

Eligibility

Subsidy

6. What are the cost items covered under PSP?
7. What is the maximum amount of PSP subsidy an eligible Hong Kong professional may receive upon participating in a PSP activity?
8. How is the approved maximum subsidy level for an eligible participation cost item determined?
9. Is travel cost covered under PSP?
10. Is accommodation cost covered under PSP?
11. Is accommodation cost incurred before or after the activity period eligible under PSP?
12. Apart from travel and accommodation expenses, what other cost items are covered under PSP?
13. Will in-town transportation arranged by participants themselves be eligible under PSP? Will venues for conducting events, if not arranged by activity organisers, also eligible?
14. What expenses are not eligible under PSP?
15. Is a participating professional eligible for the PSP subsidy if they only partially attend a PSP activity, e.g. attending certain sessions, leaving early, or participating intermittently?

Application

Disbursement (applicable to cases where participation cost is paid by eligible participating professionals)

Reporting Requirements (applicable to cases where participation cost is paid by eligible participating professionals)

27. What actions are required from the Grantee after completing the disbursement of the PSP subsidy?

Eligibility

1.Who are the eligible beneficiaries under PSP?
Eligible beneficiaries refer to Hong Kong professionals from the eligible professional services sectors under PASS who have participated in eligible activities under PSP.
2.Who are the eligible applicant bodies under PSP?
Applications for the PSP subsidy should be submitted by Hong Kong major professional bodies after their Hong Kong professionals have participated in eligible activities under PSP.

Hong Kong major professional bodies applying for the PSP subsidy (Applicant bodies) must be non-profit-distributing in nature and must either be statutory organisations or organisations formed or registered under the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
3.What is a “non-profit-distributing organisation”?
A non-profit-distributing organisation is defined as an organisation which does not distribute profits to its directors, members, shareholders, employees or any other persons. An Applicant body (i.e. Hong Kong major professional body) is required to declare that it has not distributed any profits generated by the Applicant body to any of its directors, members, shareholders, employees or any other persons in the past and will not do so in future.

An Applicant body should provide supplementary information, such as copies of its Constitution, Articles of Association or other official documents, to prove it is non-profit-distributing in nature.
4.How can Hong Kong professional bodies become prospective applicant bodies under PSP?
If Hong Kong professional bodies from the eligible professional services sectors under PASS are interested in becoming the PSP applicant bodies, they may contact the PASS Secretariat direct. The PASS Secretariat will consider such requests in consultation with relevant bureaux/departments in ascertaining that such bodies are capable of confirming the professional status of individual participants; and arranging proper disbursement of the PSP subsidy to eligible participating professionals.
5.What are the eligible activities under PSP?
Eligible activities under PSP refer to non-profit-making exchange, promotion and professional standard enhancement activities organised by the Government and Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The activities should aim at encouraging Hong Kong professional services sectors to step up the promotion of Hong Kong’s competitive edges and professional services to the Mainland and overseas markets after the pandemic has stabilised.

The list of activities under PSP is available at this web page.

Subsidy

6.
What are the cost items covered under PSP?
Only direct costs related to an eligible activity (also known as “participation cost items”) may be subsidised under PSP, these include:
1. (a) travel cost;
2. (b) accommodation cost; and
3. (c) participation fee charged by activity organisers, e.g. group in-town transportation cost and venue cost of sectoral promotion or exchange sessions.
7.What is the maximum amount of PSP subsidy an eligible Hong Kong professional may receive upon participating in a PSP activity?
The amount of PSP subsidy available depends on various factors, including the specific activity attended, as each PSP activity has its own cost ceilings; and the actual cost the participating professional incurred for each eligible cost item. In cases where a participating professional shares a room with any ineligible individuals, the subsidy will be proportionately reduced, subject to the approval of the subsidy request.

In gist, the maximum amount of subsidy for each eligible participation cost item under PSP is 90% of the actual cost incurred for that item by a Hong Kong professional participating in an eligible activity, up to the approved maximum subsidy level for that item. Regardless of whether an individual participating professional pays their own participation cost, or an Applicant body (i.e. a Hong Kong major professional body) pays the participation cost for its professionals, the maximum subsidy level for each eligible participation cost item is assessed independently and on an individual basis. Any unclaimed amount from one participation cost item or claimant cannot be reallocated to another for any reason, such as offsetting excess spending.

The approved maximum subsidy levels for eligible participation cost items cannot be transferred between them. Details of the participation cost items are set out in Section 1.5 of the Guide to Application for PSP.

The PSP subsidy will be provided on a reimbursement basis, subject to the participating professional’s full attendance at the activities concerned.
8.How is the approved maximum subsidy level for an eligible participation cost item determined?
The approved maximum subsidy level for each eligible participation cost item is determined based on the lowest conforming quotation obtained by an activity organiser according to the Stores and Procurement Regulations for a Government bureau/department or the prevailing procurement procedures of Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The Government and the PASS Vetting Committee have the right to adjust the PSP subsidy entitlement as they think fit.
9.Is travel cost covered under PSP?
Under PSP, travel cost covers transportation by air, road, rail, sea, etc. between Hong Kong and the location where an eligible activity takes place. In general, only travel cost incurred from five days before the start to five days after the end of the activity is considered as a direct cost related to the eligible activity. Travel cost incurred beyond the above-mentioned period is not considered directly related to the eligible activity and will not be eligible under PSP. The maximum duration of stay in a transfer location for a connecting flight or other modes of transport is 24 hours. For flight fares^*, only cost of the economy class air ticket at the most economical fare level is covered. For train fares for High Speed Rail, only cost of the second class train ticket or fares on the most economical class is covered.
* Add-on services, such as extra luggage fees, seat reservation fees, extra legroom charges, administrative fees and meal costs are not covered.

The specified mode of transport and designated travel routes, set alongside the maximum subsidy level for the activity, should be followed. Participating professionals who fail to follow the group itinerary may render themselves ineligible for subsidy under PSP.
10.Is accommodation cost covered under PSP?
Under PSP, accommodation cost covers lodging during the activity period at the location where an eligible activity takes place. In general, only accommodation cost incurred during the activity period is considered as a direct cost related to the eligible activity.
11.Is accommodation cost incurred before or after the activity period eligible under PSP?
Where fully justified (e.g. a participating professional stays at the activity location early or extends their stay beyond the activity period for reasons such as making on-site preparations, handling post-activity wrap-up tasks or attending events/visits/meetings related to the PSP activity immediately before or after the activity period), accommodation cost incurred up to two days before the start or up to two days after the end of the activity may be considered as a direct cost related to the eligible activity, and be covered under the approved maximum subsidy level for accommodation cost. Accommodation cost incurred beyond the above-mentioned period is not considered directly related to the eligible activity and will not be eligible under PSP.

Where necessary, an activity organiser or collaborating professional body may consider submitting a request, with full justifications, on behalf of participating professionals who need to incur accommodation cost up to two days before the start or after the end of the PSP activity. Such request should be submitted to the PASS Secretariat for exceptional consideration prior to the commencement of the activity, and ideally before confirming accommodation bookings, to avoid potential financial loss if the request is not approved.
12.
Apart from travel and accommodation expenses, what other cost items are covered under PSP?
Participation fee charged by the activity organisers is also covered under PSP. It includes the following items:
1. (a) cost of group in-town transportation arranged and charged by the activity organisers for participants, e.g. travel to and from transportation terminals and between places of accommodation and event venues; and
2. (b) cost of venues for conducting sectoral promotion or exchange sessions arranged and charged by the activity organisers for participants.
13. Will in-town transportation arranged by participants themselves be eligible under PSP? Will venues for conducting events, if not arranged by activity organisers, also eligible?
Only cost of group in-town transportation arranged and charged by activity organisers for participants is eligible under PSP. Similarly, only cost of venues for conducting sectoral promotion or exchange sessions arranged and charged by activity organisers for participants is eligible under PSP.
14.What expenses are not eligible under PSP?
Expenses on company promotion booths, gala dinners, meals and entertainment, cocktail receptions, souvenirs, etc. are not eligible under PSP. Financial losses due to forfeiture of deposits, payment of unused travel tickets and guest rooms, etc. are also not eligible under PSP.

To minimise such risks, participating professionals may consider procuring services with flexible cancellation terms.
15.Is a participating professional eligible for the PSP subsidy if they only partially attend a PSP activity, e.g. attending certain sessions, leaving early, or participating intermittently?
To ensure that participating professionals fully benefit from the PSP activities and that public funds are properly utilised, only Hong Kong professionals who have participated in full in the activity concerned are eligible to request the PSP subsidy.

Application

16.Which bodies may submit applications for the PSP subsidy?
Applications for the PSP subsidy should be submitted by Hong Kong major professional bodies after their Hong Kong professionals have participated in eligible activities under PSP.

Eligible participating professionals may refer to details of each activity listed under “List of Activities” for information on "Potential Applicant Body" that may apply for the PSP subsidy on their behalf.
17.When should an application for the PSP subsidy be submitted?
The Applicant body (i.e. Hong Kong major professional body) should submit an application for PSP subsidy to the PASS Secretariat, where necessary, in batches, but in any event, the final batch should reach the PASS Secretariat within eight weeks after the completion of the activity. Late applications will normally not be considered.
18(A).
What are the application procedures if participation costs are paid by eligible participating professionals?
After fully participating in a PSP activity, the Hong Kong professional from the eligible professional services sector under PASS should fill in their individual Request Form and submit it together with original receipts and supporting documents to the relevant Hong Kong major professional body as early as practicable, with due attention to the requirements and deadlines set by the body (if any). Please refer to the details of each activity under "List of Activities" for information on "Potential Applicant Body".

The relevant Hong Kong major professional body (i.e. Applicant body) should submit the duly completed Application Form, together with individual Request Forms completed by eligible participating professionals and the relevant original receipts and supporting documents, to the PASS Secretariat within eight weeks after the completion of the activity.

Among other things and as part of the application, the Applicant body will be required to:
1. (a) confirm that the participants concerned are Hong Kong professionals from the eligible professional services sectors under PASS throughout the entire activity period (e.g. with reference to the individuals’ relevant professional qualifications and whether they are engaged in the relevant professional services in Hong Kong); and
2. (b) undertake to arrange proper disbursement of the PSP subsidy to the eligible participating professionals upon receipt of the lump sum PSP subsidy from the Government.
Detailed application procedures may refer to Section 2.2 of the Guide to Application for PSP.
18(B).What are the application procedures if participation costs are paid by the Hong Kong major professional body?
The relevant Hong Kong major professional body, which has paid participation costs for its Hong Kong participating professionals, should submit the duly completed Application Form, together with relevant original receipts and supporting documents, to the PASS Secretariat. The Applicant body (i.e. Hong Kong major professional body) will also be required to confirm that the participants concerned are Hong Kong professionals from the eligible professional services sectors under PASS throughout the entire activity period (e.g. with reference to the individuals’ relevant professional qualifications and whether they are engaged in the relevant professional services in Hong Kong).

Detailed application procedures may refer to Section 2.2 of the Guide to Application for PSP.
19.
What supporting documents are required when making an application for the PSP subsidy?
The Applicant body (Hong Kong major professional body) is required to provide the following documents to the PASS Secretariat:
1. (a) a copy of the Applicant body’s Constitution, Articles of Association or other official documents to prove the Applicant body is non-profit-distributing in nature, if such information has not been provided to the PASS Secretariat before;
2. (b) a copy of the Applicant body’s Certificate of Incorporation or other official documents to prove the Applicant body’s legal status, if such information has not been provided to the PASS Secretariat before;
3. (c) an Application Form duly completed by the Applicant body;
4. (d) where applicable, individual Request Forms duly completed by the eligible participating professionals; and
5. (e)
  relevant supporting documents to substantiate/prove:
  1. (i) actual payment to the activity organiser
    
    original receipts^# issued by the activity organiser to the participating professional (with a breakdown of each eligible participation cost item, for travel cost, accommodation cost and/or participation fee (e.g. group in-town transportation cost and venue cost of sectoral promotion or exchange sessions)), plus copies of the relevant invoices (if any);
  2. (ii) actual payment to travel and accommodation service providers
    
    original receipts^# issued by service providers to the participating professional (with a breakdown of each eligible participation cost item, for travel cost and/or accommodation cost), plus copies of the relevant invoices/contracts (if any). Each eligible participation cost item may be provided by different service providers;
  3. (iii) actual use of service
    
    for travel service, original supporting documents issued by travel service providers, such as boarding passes, flight certificates, bus tickets and train tickets^, and relevant counterfoils (if applicable);
    
    for accommodation service, original supporting documents issued by accommodation providers after the participating professional has completed their stay, such as hotel guest folios showing the hotels’ names and addresses, individual participating professional’s name, check-in and check-out dates, and room rates.
    ^ In case of High Speed Rail services operated by China Railway/MTR Corporation Limited that do not provide physical tickets, a printout of the screen capture showing the relevant train journey made under 12306.cn website/12306 mobile app, which is available within 30 days of the journey is accepted. Participating professionals are reminded to download the relevant mobile app before the start of the activity.
  4. (iv) Depending on who pays the participation cost, the payer’s name on all receipts should be either that of the participating professional or the Applicant body. The name of the traveller/guest shown on all supporting documents should match the name of the participating professional on his/her Hong Kong Identity Card.
  5. (v) If any of the supporting documents is a copy (e.g. receipts issued by online travel agencies, credit card statements and bank transfer slips), the participating professional or Applicant body should certify on each page that it is a true copy of the original and that no previous claims on the document have been made. If the supporting document is only issued in electronic form (e.g. e-receipts, e-bank statements, e-boarding passes) without a hard copy, the participating professional or Applicant body should certify on each page that no previous claims on the electronic document have been made^#.
    # In cases where the Applicant body pays the participation cost for its participating professionals, the receipts issued by the activity organiser or service providers should indicate that the payments were made by the Applicant body for its participating professionals. Such receipts should include a breakdown of each eligible participation cost item (i.e. travel cost, accommodation cost and/or participation fee) for each participating professional separately. Copies of relevant invoices/contracts should be provided, if any.
20.Is there any application fee?
No application fee will be charged by the PASS Secretariat.

The Applicant body should submit the Application Form and supporting documents, and where applicable, individual Request Forms at their own costs and expenses. The Government will not be liable for any costs or expenses whatsoever incurred by the Applicant body and/or participating professionals in connection with the preparation and submission of the Application Form, Request Forms, supporting documents, the undertaking, receipt of the PSP subsidy, or disbursement of the PSP subsidy by the Applicant body to the eligible participating professionals.
21.When will the Applicant body be notified of the application outcome? Will reasons be provided for unsuccessful applications?
The PASS Secretariat will normally complete the processing of a valid application within four weeks from the date of receipt of all duly completed forms, supporting documents, clarification and/or supplementary information, and will inform the Applicant body of the result in writing. Results may be announced in batches if the PASS Secretariat has processed the application in batches.

For successful applications, the Government will disburse the PSP subsidy through payment to the bank account of the Grantee or by an order cheque bearing the full name of the Grantee. For unsuccessful applications, the PASS Secretariat will inform the Applicant bodies of the reasons for the decisions.
22.Who will notify participating professionals of the outcome of their PSP subsidy requests? Will reasons be provided for unsuccessful requests?
In cases where individual participating professionals pay the participation cost themselves, the Applicant body (Hong Kong major professional body) will notify them of the results of their requests, and arrange disbursement of the PSP subsidy if the requests are successful, or provide reasons if the requests are unsuccessful.

The PASS Secretariat will not notify participating professionals of results of their requests individually.

Disbursement (applicable to cases where participation cost is paid by eligible participating professionals)

23.
What is a successful Applicant body (Hong Kong major professional body/Grantee) responsible for?
A successful Applicant body (Hong Kong major professional body/Grantee) is responsible for:
1. (a) arranging proper disbursement of the PSP subsidy to the eligible participating professionals within four weeks upon receipt of the lump sum PSP subsidy from the Government;
2. (b) bearing any costs or expenses whatsoever to be incurred by itself in connection with receipt of the lump sum PSP subsidy from the Government and disbursement of the PSP subsidy to the eligible participating professionals; and
3. (c) returning the undisbursed residual PSP subsidy to the Government, if any.
The relevant body is required to sign an undertaking to fulfil its responsibilities. The Government will disburse the lump sum PSP subsidy through payment to the bank account of the Grantee or by an order cheque bearing the full name of the Grantee.
24.How long will it take for eligible participating professionals to receive the PSP subsidy?
Under normal circumstances, the PASS Secretariat will complete the processing of a valid application within four weeks from the date of receipt of all required forms and documents. The successful Applicant body will be notified of the outcome, and the lump sum PSP subsidy will be disbursed to them thereafter.

Upon receipt of the lump sum PSP subsidy from the Government, the Grantee (i.e. successful Applicant body) is required to arrange disbursement of the PSP subsidy to the eligible participating professionals within four weeks according to the approved lists given by the PASS Secretariat.
25.Who should be contacted for enquiries about the PSP subsidy received?
Participating professionals should first approach the concerned Hong Kong major professional bodies which had submitted the PSP subsidy requests on their behalf. If the concerned bodies have further questions, they may contact the PASS Secretariat.
26.What actions are required from the Grantee if disbursement of the PSP subsidy to the eligible participating professionals is unsuccessful?
In case of unsuccessful disbursement of the PSP subsidy (e.g. unsuccessful bank transfer or unpresented cheques for more than six months) to the eligible participating professionals, the Grantee is required to notify the PASS Secretariat immediately and return the residual subsidy to the Government upon demand.

Reporting Requirements (applicable to cases where participation cost is paid by eligible participating professionals)

27.What actions are required from the Grantee after completing the disbursement of the PSP subsidy?
After completing the disbursement of the PSP subsidy, the Grantee is required to submit disbursement reports together with supporting documents (e.g. bank transfer slips, bank statements and cheque copies) within six weeks for acceptance by the PASS Secretariat.