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 after participating in a PSP activity?
8. How is the approved maximum subsidy level for an eligible participation cost item determined under PSP?
9. Is travel expenditure covered under PSP?
10. May travel cost incurred a few days before the start of a PSP activity or a few days after the end of a PSP activity be eligible for the PSP subsidy?
11. Is accommodation expenditure covered under PSP?
12. May accommodation cost incurred a few days before the start of a PSP activity or a few days after the end of a PSP activity be eligible for the PSP subsidy?
13. Is participation fee (charged by the activity organiser) covered under PSP?
14. Will in-town transportation arranged by participants themselves be eligible for the PSP subsidy? Will venues for conducting events not arranged by activity organisers be eligible for the PSP subsidy??
15. What are the expenses not eligible for the PSP subsidy?
16. Will a participating professional be eligible to request the PSP subsidy if he/she has only attended part of the PSP activity?

Application

Disbursement

Reporting Requirements

28. What actions are required from a successful PSP Applicant (Hong Kong major professional body/Grantee) after completion of disbursement of the PSP subsidy?

Eligibility

1.Who are the eligible beneficiaries under PSP?
Eligible beneficiaries refer to Hong Kong professionals from eligible professional services sectors who have participated in eligible PSP activities.
2.Which are the eligible applicants for the PSP subsidy?
Applications for the PSP subsidy should be submitted by Hong Kong major professional bodies from the relevant sectors on behalf of Hong Kong professionals participating in eligible activities.

Hong Kong major professional bodies applying for the PSP subsidy 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 for the PSP subsidy (i.e. Hong Kong major professional body) is required to declare that it has not distributed any profits generated by the Applicant to any of its directors, members, shareholders, employees or any other persons in the past and will not do so in future.

An Applicant for the PSP subsidy should provide supplementary information, such as copies of its Constitution, Articles of Association or other official documents, to prove the Applicant is non-profit-distributing in nature.
4.How can Hong Kong professional bodies become potential PSP applicants?
If Hong Kong professional bodies from eligible professional services sectors under PASS are interested in becoming the PSP applicants (i.e. Hong Kong major professional 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 activities are eligible under PSP?
Eligible activities under PSP refer to non-profit-making exchange, promotion and professional standard enhancement activities organised by the Government and HKTDC. The activities should aim at encouraging Hong Kong professional services sectors to step up promotion of Hong Kong’s competitive edges and professional services to the Mainland and overseas markets after the pandemic stabilised.

The latest 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 PSP activity (also known as “participation cost items”) may be subsidised under PSP, such as –
1. (a) travel cost;
2. (b) accommodation cost; and
3. (c) (c)participation fee charged by the activity organiser, 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 after participating in a PSP activity?
The amount of PSP subsidy an eligible Hong Kong professional may receive depends on various factors, e.g. which PSP activity he/she has joined (each PSP activity has a maximum subsidy level for each eligible participation cost item) and the actual cost he/she has incurred for each eligible participation cost item.

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 Hong Kong professionals participating in eligible activities, up to the approved maximum subsidy level for that item.

The approved maximum subsidy levels for eligible participation cost items cannot be transferred amongst themselves. 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 professionals’ full attendance of the activities concerned.
8.How is the approved maximum subsidy level for an eligible participation cost item determined under PSP?
The approved maximum subsidy level is determined on the basis of the lowest conforming quotation obtained by the activity organiser in accordance with the relevant organisation’s prevailing procurement procedures. Where necessary, the Government and the PASS Secretariat have the right to adjust the PSP subsidy entitlement.
9.Is travel expenditure covered 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 during the activity period is considered as a direct cost related to the eligible activity. The maximum duration of stay in a location of transfer for a connecting flight/transport is 24 hours. For flight fares, normally only cost of the economy class air ticket at the most economical fare level is covered. For train fares for High Speed Rail, normally only cost of the second class train ticket or fares on the most economical class is covered.
10.May travel cost incurred a few days before the start of a PSP activity or a few days after the end of a PSP activity be eligible for the PSP subsidy?
Where fully justified (e.g. a participating professional reaches an activity location early or departs for Hong Kong later for reasons such as making on-site preparation, handling post-activity winding-up issues and attending events/visits/meetings related to the eligible PSP activity immediately before the start or after the end of the PSP activity concerned), travel cost incurred up to five days before the start of the activity or up to five 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 travel cost. In other words, travel cost incurred beyond the above-mentioned period is not considered directly related to the eligible activity and will not be eligible for the PSP subsidy.

Where necessary, an activity organiser/collaborating professional body may consider to submit a request with full justifications on behalf of the participating professionals concerned, who need to incur travel cost up to five days before the start of the PSP activity or up to five days after the end of the PSP activity, to the PASS Secretariat for exceptional consideration before the procurement of travel tickets.
11. Is accommodation expenditure covered under PSP?
Accommodation expenditure is covered under PSP, including accommodation staying in during the activity period at the location where an eligible activity takes place.
12. May accommodation cost incurred a few days before the start of a PSP activity or a few days after the end of a PSP activity be eligible for the PSP subsidy?
Where fully justified (e.g. a participating professional stays in an accommodation at an activity location early or overstays the activity period for reasons such as making on-site preparation, handling post-activity winding-up issues and attending events/visits/meetings related to the eligible PSP activity immediately before the start or after the end of the PSP activity concerned), accommodation cost incurred up to two days before the start of the activity 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. In other words, accommodation cost incurred beyond the above-mentioned period is not considered directly related to the eligible activity and will not be eligible for the PSP subsidy.

Where necessary, an activity organiser/collaborating professional body may consider to submit a request with full justifications on behalf of the participating professionals concerned, who need to incur accommodation cost up to two days before the start of the PSP activity or up to two days after the end of the PSP activity, to the PASS Secretariat for exceptional consideration before confirming accommodation bookings.
13.
Is participation fee (charged by the activity organiser) covered under PSP?
Participation fee (charged by the activity organiser) is covered under PSP, including –
1. (a) cost of the group in-town transportation arranged by the activity organiser for participants, e.g. travelling to and from transportation terminals and between places of accommodation and event venues; and
2. (b) cost of the venues for conducting sectoral promotion or exchange sessions as arranged by the activity organiser for participants.
14.Will in-town transportation arranged by participants themselves be eligible for the PSP subsidy? Will venues for conducting events not arranged by activity organisers be eligible for the PSP subsidy?
Only cost of the group in-town transportation arranged by activity organisers for participants may be covered under the PSP subsidy.

Only cost of the venues for conducting sectoral promotion or exchange sessions arranged by activity organisers for participants may be covered under the PSP subsidy.
15.What are the expenses not eligible for the PSP subsidy?
Expenses for company promotion booths, gala dinners, meals and entertainment, cocktail receptions, souvenirs, etc. are not eligible for the PSP subsidy.

Besides, financial losses due to the forfeiture of deposits, payment of unused travel tickets and unoccupied accommodation, etc. are not eligible for the PSP subsidy. Participating professionals may consider procuring services (e.g. flight tickets and hotel rooms) with flexible cancellation terms to avoid forfeiture of deposits or advance payment in case of unexpected circumstances.
16.Will a participating professional be eligible to request the PSP subsidy if he/she has only attended part of the PSP activity?
To ensure that participating professionals will gain the most from the benefits brought by the PSP activity to the relevant professional sectors and that public funds are properly used, only Hong Kong professionals who have participated in full in the activity concerned are eligible to request the PSP subsidy.

Application

17.Who may submit applications for the PSP subsidy?
Applications for the PSP subsidy should be submitted by Hong Kong major professional bodies from the relevant sectors on behalf of Hong Kong professionals participating in PSP activities.

Eligible participating professionals may refer to details of each activity under List of Activities for information on "Potential PSP Applicant" who may apply for the PSP subsidy on their behalf.
18.When should an application for the PSP subsidy be submitted?
An Applicant for the PSP subsidy (Hong Kong major professional body) should submit the Application Form for PSP Subsidy on behalf of eligible participating professionals to the PASS Secretariat within eight weeks after completion of the activity concerned. Late applications will normally not be considered.

Taking the above deadline into consideration, eligible participating professionals should submit their duly completed request forms, together with original receipts and supporting documents to the relevant Hong Kong major professional bodies of the activities concerned, with due attention to the requirements (if any) and deadline for request set by the bodies, as early as practicable after the PSP activities concerned are completed.
19.
What are the application procedures?
After participating in a PSP activity, a Hong Kong professional from the eligible professional services sector under PASS should fill in his/her individual Request Form and submit it together with original receipts and supporting documents to the relevant Hong Kong major professional body of the activity concerned. Please refer to the details of each activity under List of Activities for information on "Potential PSP Applicant".

The relevant Hong Kong major professional body should submit a duly completed Application Form for PSP Subsidy, together with individual request forms completed by eligible participating professionals and the relevant original receipts and supporting documents, to the PASS Secretariat.

The relevant Hong Kong major professional body will be required to:
1. (a) confirm confirm that the participants concerned are Hong Kong professionals from the eligible professional services sectors under PASS (listed at Annex I) during the full period of the activity concerned (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) (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.
20.
What supporting documents are required when making an application for the PSP subsidy?
An Applicant for the PSP subsidy (Hong Kong major professional body) is required to provide the following documents to the PASS Secretariat –
1. (a) (a)a copy of the Applicant’s Constitution, Articles of Association or other official document(s) to prove that the Applicant is non-profit-distributing in nature (if such information has not been provided to the PASS Secretariat before);
2. (b) (b)a copy of the Applicant’s Certificate of Incorporation or other official document(s) to prove the Applicant’s legal status (if such information has not been provided to the PASS Secretariat before);
3. (c) individual request forms duly completed and signed by eligible participating professionals;
4. (d) an Application Form (with undertaking) duly completed, signed and stamped by the Applicant; and
5. (e)
  relevant supporting documents such as –
  1. (i) Supporting documents for expenses paid to activity organisers
    
    Original receipts issued by activity organisers concerned to participating professionals (with a breakdown by each eligible participation cost item including 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). If the original receipts include the cost item of travel cost, original copies of other supporting documents, such as boarding passes, flight certificates, train tickets, bus tickets and relevant counterfoils (where applicable) will also be required to prove the actual usage of service.
  2. (ii) Supporting documents for expenses paid to travel and accommodation service providers (in case the relevant services were arranged by participating professionals on their own)
    
    Travel cost: Original receipts issued by service providers to participating professionals, plus copies of the relevant invoices/contracts (if any). In addition, original copies of other supporting documents, such as boarding passes, flight certificates, train tickets, bus tickets and relevant counterfoils (where applicable) will also be required to prove the actual usage of service.
    
    Accommodation cost: •Original receipts issued by service providers to participating professionals, plus copies of the relevant invoices/contracts (if any). In addition, original copies of other supporting documents, such as hotel vouchers/guest folios issued by hotels upon completion of stay, showing clearly the names and addresses of the accommodation, guest names, check in/out dates, room rates, etc. will also be required to prove the actual usage of service.
  3. (iii) The name of the payer/traveller/guest shown on all supporting documents should be the same as the name of the participating professional.
21.Is there any application fee?
No application fee will be charged.

The Applicant should submit the application and participating professionals’ individual request forms (together with relevant supporting documents) at its own costs and expenses. The Government will not be liable for any costs or expenses whatsoever incurred by the Applicant and/or participating professionals in connection with the preparation and submission of the application and request forms and receipt of the PSP subsidy, as well as disbursement of the PSP subsidy by the Applicant to the eligible participating professionals.
22.When will the Applicant (Hong Kong major professional body) be notified of the application result? Will reasons be given for unsuccessful cases?
The PASS Secretariat will normally inform the Applicant (Hong Kong major professional body) of the application result in writing within four weeks from the date of receipt of the duly completed application accompanied by participating professionals’ individual request forms (together with relevant supporting documents).

For unsuccessful cases, the PASS Secretariat will inform the Applicant (Hong Kong major professional body) of the reasons for the decisions.
23.Who will notify individual participating professionals of results of their requests for the PSP subsidy? Will reasons be given if the requests are unsuccessful?
The Applicant (Hong Kong major professional body) will notify individual participating professionals of their request results for the PSP subsidy 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 individual participating professionals of their request results.

Disbursement

24.
What is a successful PSP Applicant (Hong Kong major professional body/Grantee) responsible for?
A successful Applicant (Hong Kong major professional body/Grantee) will be responsible, among other things, for:
1. (a) Arranging proper disbursement of the PSP subsidy to eligible participating professionals (where applicable) 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 eligible participating professionals; and
3. (c) returning the undisbursed residual PSP subsidy to the Government, if any.
The successful Applicant will be 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 (i.e. the successful Applicant) or by an order cheque bearing the full name of the Grantee.
25.How long will it take for eligible participating professionals to receive the PSP subsidy?
Upon receipt of the lump sum PSP subsidy from the Government, Grantees are required to arrange disbursement of the PSP subsidy to eligible participating professionals within four weeks according to the approved participant lists given by the PASS Secretariat.
26.Who should be approached in case of any questions about the PSP subsidy received?
Participating professionals should first approach the concerned Hong Kong major professional bodies which had submitted their requests for the PSP subsidy on their behalf. If the concerned Hong Kong major professional bodies have further questions on the PSP subsidy, they may contact the PASS Secretariat.
27.What actions are required from a successful PSP Applicant (Hong Kong major professional body/Grantee) if there are unsuccessful bank transfers or unpresented cheques for more than six months during disbursement of the PSP subsidy?
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 successful Applicant (Hong Kong major professional body/Grantee) is required to notify the PASS Secretariat immediately and return the residual subsidy to the Government upon demand.

Reporting Requirements

28.What actions are required from a successful PSP Applicant (Hong Kong major professional body/Grantee) after completion of disbursement of the PSP subsidy?
After completion of disbursement of the PSP subsidy, Grantees are 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.