The Development Bureau today (November 21) announced the enhancement of the Financial Assistance for Maintenance Scheme for historic buildings.
 
     The Commissioner for Heritage's Office (CHO) of the Development Bureau launched the Scheme in August 2008, with a view to helping prevent deterioration of historic buildings due to lack of maintenance by providing financial assistance in the form of grants to the owners of privately owned graded historic buildings for them to carry out maintenance works.
 
      Having consulted the Advisory Committee on Built Heritage Conservation, the CHO has increased the ceiling of grant for each successful application from $1 million to $2 million and expanded the scope from owners of privately owned graded historic buildings to cover non-profit-making organisations leasing government-owned declared monuments or graded historic buildings as well.
 
     A spokesman for the Development Bureau said, "Since the launch of the Scheme, 99 applications have been received, of which 50 applications have been approved with a total grant of $46.79 million. Twenty-six applications are being processed. The increase in the ceiling of grant for each successful application and expansion of scope will provide more comprehensive support for the maintenance works for historic buildings."

     For more information about the Scheme, please visit the heritage conservation website (www.heritage.gov.hk/en/maintenance/about.htm). 

Ends/Monday, November 21, 2016
Issued at HKT 14:10

NNNN