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Food business operators are invited to apply for loans for improvement works to enhance hygiene standards of their food premises starting from tomorrow (December 28), under an incentive scheme managed by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.
Eligible applicants include owners of restaurants, factory canteens, food factories and siu mei and lo mei shops; cooked-food hawker licensees; tenants of cooked-food stalls and siu mei and lo mei stalls operating inside markets managed by the department; and owners of businesses operated under sushi and sashimi permits.
A spokesman for the department said it was the sixth and final round of the scheme. The first round was introduced in April, 2004.
"The loans can be used for a range of hygiene improvement works including refurbishment of kitchens, food preparation rooms, scullery and toilets; installation of new scullery facilities and facilities for storage of food and utensils; installation of stoves and food warmers; installation of food display panel or showcases at shop fronts and other related works," the spokesman said.
"Applicants may borrow up to 40% of the approved cost of the improvement works or $50,000, whichever is lower."
"Borrowers will have to pay interest at the Government's 'no-gain-no-loss interest rate', which now stands at 5.525% per annum. The principal and interest will be repayable through 24 monthly instalments."
Applications can be made from tomorrow to March 27, 2007 to the department's Revenue and Expenditure Section at 42/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong.
Application forms can be downloaded from the department's website (www.fehd.gov.hk), or obtained from its Revenue and Expenditure Section, Licence Issuing Offices and District Environmental Hygiene Offices. Enquiries can be made at 2867 5132.
Ends/Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:20
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