About Us >The Secretariat of the Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise Project
Objective
The objective of the Project is to enhance the employment of persons with disabilities through market-driven approach and direct creation of more work opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. Through the payment of grants as seed money to NGOs, the Project supports the creation of small enterprises/ businesses, (the "Business" which expression shall, as the context may permit, include the proposed business before the grant, the business approved for the grant and the business created or carried on with the grant) to ensure people with disabilities can enjoy genuine employment in a carefully planned and sympathetic working environment.
Guiding principle
To achieve the above objective, the number of employees with disabilities should not be less than 50% of the total number of persons on the pay-roll for the Business. For the employees, a proper employer-employee relationship such as the entitlement to the normal employment benefits as defined under the Employment Ordinance etc. is expected. For the purpose of calculating the percentage under this paragraph, in case if there is any consultant or other similar person who receives any consultancy or management fee from the Business, the consultant or the person himself and all his/its employees shall be deemed to be persons on the pay-roll of the Business.
Who are eligible to apply
The grants from the Project are open for application by bona-fide charitable NGOs which have their own distinct legal entities authorized to carry out business activities in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. These NGOs must have tax-exempted status under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112). They may or may not be receiving subventions from the Social Welfare Department. For NGOs not receiving subventions from the Social Welfare Department, documentary proof of their having tax-exempted status under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) to the satisfaction of the Director of Social Welfare and to substantiate their having actively engaged in welfare and charitable activities for at least two years before the submission of the applications have to be submitted with the applications. The applicant NGO may create and conduct the Business in its own name or by way of a wholly-owned subsidiary incorporated for this specific purpose. In the latter case, documentary proof of the relationship between the applicant NGO and the wholly-owned subsidiary has to be submitted with the application. In any event, separate books and accounts of the Business are required to be kept.
Form of funding support
Funding support is given in the form of a non-recurrent grant to the grantee to assist them to pay the necessary set-up cost in respect of equipment, fitting-out works, etc. and / or the operating loss for the initial period up to three years. The level of support will be determined by the Assessment Panel with reference to the applicant's projections submitted in accordance with para. 3.3.4 of the Guide to the Project and any other factors deemed appropriate. The maximum amount of a grant is $3 million per application. Supplementary grant will normally not be considered.
Guide to Application and Application Form
- The Guide to the Project (effective from January 2020)
- Application Form
- Application Form (Appendix)
- Quarterly Progress Report Template (Part A)
- Annual Progress Report Template (Part B)
- Projection of manpower for 4th and 5th years
The list of supported projects (as at 1.11.2022) is available below.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is eligible to apply?
Only bona-fide charitable non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which have their own distinct legal entities authorized to carry out business activities in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with tax-exempted status under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) can apply the funding. They may or may not be receiving subventions from the Social Welfare Department (SWD). For NGOs not receiving subventions from SWD, they have to be actively engaged in welfare and charitable activities for at least 2 years before the submission of applications.
- Is there any restriction on the business nature?
The business to be applied should be legal under HKSAR jurisdiction and at least 50% of the total number of employees on the pay-roll for the business is persons with disabilities. The business should be operationally viable and financially self-sustainable after three years' operation.
- Can NGOs apply the funding with other collaboration parties?
Only NGOs with tax-exempted status under Section 88 could be the applicant for the funding and any profits derived should be used for the creation of more employment opportunities and improvement of the working conditions for persons with disabilities or other charitable purposes as approved by the SWD.
- Can NGOs apply funding in support of a business having commenced operation?
The funding is to support the creation of new business through providing financial assistance in meeting initial capital cost and operation loss for a maximum of 3 years. Business in operation is not eligible to apply.
- Is there any timeline in submitting the application?
NGOs can submit the application to Project Secretariat all the year round. The Project Secretariat, including the Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation) staff, will conduct preliminary screening and may seek clarification or supplementary information. A Project Assessment Panel will consider the proposal and formulate their recommendations on the applications.
- Is there any funding limit?
The maximum amount of a grant is HK$3 million per Business. Applications for supplementary grant will normally not be considered.
- How will the approved funding be disbursed?
Under normal circumstances, grant for the capital expenditure will be made on reimbursement basis and running costs will be paid at the intervals as agreed by Director of Social Welfare. Disbursement of the grant in general will be based on specific milestones in the development of the Business, taking account of circumstances of individual cases.