Latest news about business, commerce and government policy. Government business grants such as BUD Fund, TVP Fund etc change rapidly in recent years.
The Hong Kong Productivity Council launched “BUD Online Application” on 30th June 2020. Companies only log on “Online e-form application for BUD” to submit the application. Please notice that the BUD secretariat will not accept other means of application such as mail, in person or email after 31st July 2020. The tutorial of the Online … Read more
The HKSAR Government is required to enact the controversial National Security Law. According to the new law, 4 types of offences may lead to life sentence, and the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Chinese Government shall exercise jurisdiction in some cases. After the announcement (1st July, Hong Kong SAR establishment day), thousands of … Read more
The Thai Government announced that the travel ban to 5 jurisdictions (includes Hong Kong) will be loosen on 1st July 2020. Hong Kong people with work permit will be exempted from a 14-day quarantine if they have COVID-19 tests both in Hong Kong and upon arrival. And they have to observe the restriction to not … Read more
Today (2020/6/26), the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) announced that the Distance Business Programme (D-Biz) will have an additional provision of HK$ 1 billion from the Anti-epidemic Fund. Up to the moment, the government has received 14,500 D-Biz applications, proceeded 1,194 cases and approved 1,094 cases. The total grant is HK$ 44 million. Criticized D-Biz … Read more
The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday on the 5th day of the 5th month in the Chinese calendar. Therefore it is also known as the “Double Fifth Festival”. On this day, people will have dragon boat races (dragon boat is a human-powered watercraft with a decorative Chinese dragon head). Besides the Chinese … Read more
One annoying point of the BUD Fund application is that we must mail or hand in the application document to the BUD Office. People always request for an online application portal which is similar to the TVP. Here is the good news: From early July 2020, applicant companies can apply for the BUD Fund online. … Read more
After more than 2 years testing in India, WhatsApp launched the digital payment service in Brazil. (India and Brazil have the first and second most WhatsApp users). Facebook (the parent company of WhatsApp) is pushing more e-Commerce to its platform. Users can send money free while businesses are charged around 4% to receive the money. … Read more
The Free Trade Agreement and Investment Agreement between Hong Kong and Indonesia as an ASEAN member state will be in effect on 4th July, 2020. Benefit to both HK Goods and Services Indonesia will reduce tariff on goods made in Hong Kong, including jewelry, toy, watch and clothes. Hong Kong service providers entering Indonesia can … Read more
Up to the end of May 2020, Distance Business Program (D-Biz) received around 8,000 applications and 2,000 IT suppliers to join the reference list. The Innovation Technology Commission (ITC) announced that the deadline to join the reference list is 6th June. Suppliers wish to join the list should apply before the deadline. TVP plans to … Read more
From 1st June 2020, all TVP applicant can commence the project on the day following the application submission. (It was after application approval before), and the applicant should provide a “Declaration and Undertaking” to the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) within 5 working days after the commencement. This new policy can shorten the waiting for … Read more
