Activities of the SME Service Centres

SME Service Centres' "4-in-1" Seminar Series

The Government consolidated the services of the four SME Centres in October 2019 to provide “4-in-1” integrated services.  Theme of the “4-in-1” seminar series in the second half of 2022 is “New Normal of Business after Pandemic”, continued being co-organised by the four SME Centres, with an aim to assist enterprises to grasp business opportunities under the new normal by introducing the topics including digital transformation, the latest development of technological solutions, business transformation and Government funding schemes, etc.  "SME ReachOut" will organise the following webinar under this seminar series on 22 September 2022.  Interested persons are welcome to register at the link below.  Admission is Free.

"Get FUND with ease" series - TVP Form-filling Workshop (Webinar)
(The webinar will be held by "SME ReachOut" on 22 September 2022)

"Technology Voucher Programme" (TVP), one of the funding schemes under the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) of the Government, aims to support local enterprises/organisations in using technological services and solutions to improve productivity, or upgrade or transform their business processes.  This webinar will focus on the application essentials and tactics of TVP.  An enterprise representative will also share the experience of successfully applying for the government funding.  (The webinar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

Please click here for details and registration.

Promotional Fyler
 

Trade and Industry Department / SUCCESS-supported Activities

I. Webinar “Strategies for Exporters in Electronics Industry: Explore Business Opportunities in GBA & RCEP Leveraging on Trade Credit Insurance”

(This webinar will be live-streamed on 8 September 2022)

This webinar is organised by the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association.  SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations.  This webinar will introduce the market profiles of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) and the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation, as well as its "Export Credit Guarantee Programme" and other supportive measures provided for Hong Kong exporters.  (This webinar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details (in Chinese only)

II. Startup Guide to GBA Cities - Macao

(This webinar will be live-streamed on 9 September 2022)

This webinar is co-organised by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and the Macao Young Entrepreneur Incubation Centre.  SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations.  This webinar will introduce the unique advantages and supporting services for startups in Macao.  Macao young entrepreneurs will also share their entrepreneurial experience in the GBA.  (This webinar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details (in Chinese only)

III. Business Talk – “Fund-raising Essentials for Startups” Seminar

(This seminar will be live-streamed and held at Genesis in hybrid mode on 16 September 2022)

This seminar is organised by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.  SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations.  In this seminar, a sophisticated investor will share how startup entrepreneurs should develop their fund-raising strategies, as well as relevant knowledge and points to note.  (This seminar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details (in Chinese only)

IV. Build a Secure Cyberspace 2022 "Fact Check After Receiving, Think Twice Before Sharing" Webinar cum Folder Design Contest Award Ceremony

(This webinar will be live-streamed on 23 September 2022)

This webinar is jointly organised by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre.  SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations.  In this webinar, cyber security experts will explain how to protect users’ online information and provide useful tips for SMEs to defend against cyber attacks and beware of false information online.  (This webinar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details
 

Seminar on Productivity Assessment for Employees with Disabilities under the Statutory Minimum Wage Regime

(This seminar will be held on 16 September 2022 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre)

This seminar is organised by the Labour Department.  The seminar will introduce details of the productivity assessment for employees with disabilities under the Minimum Wage Ordinance.  Employers, persons with disabilities and their family members as well as representatives from rehabilitation organisations are welcome to attend.  Admission is free.  (The seminar will be conducted in Cantonese with sign language interpretation service provided.)

More Details and application form
 

Innovation Hub@HK website launched

The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) launched the Innovation Hub@HK website (https://www.innovationhub.hk/) on 18 August 2022 with the aim of showcasing the research and development (R&D) outcomes of universities and research institutes of Hong Kong.  The website provides a one-stop platform to connect universities, research institutes and the industry to facilitate the technology transfer and commercialisation of R&D outcomes, assist the industry to enhance efficiency and to upgrade and transform business, thereby strengthening competitiveness.  The website currently includes over 360 R&D outcomes from six research institutes and six universities.

For relevant press release, please visit
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202208/18/P2022081800327.htm.
 

Amber Code holders allowed to participate in B2B conventions and exhibitions with effect from 25 August 2022

Starting from 25 August 2022, the restrictions on entering premises of business-to-business (B2B) thematic trade exhibitions and relevant activities are adjusted to allow inbound persons from overseas places or Taiwan being categorised as having an Amber Code under the Vaccine Pass to participate in B2B conventions and exhibitions subject to specified requirements.  Relevant requirements include (i) all participants therein must wear a mask at all times during the event, save for speaker(s) while delivering a speech, (ii) the event must be mostly B2B by nature, and (iii) the organiser must require pre-registration for all participants for entry to the premises. 

As for other large-scale conventions and exhibitions which involve more participation of the local public, the relevant organising bodies can also make applications to the Government.  The Government will review the relevant circumstances, and may consider offering facilitation arrangements if they are deemed appropriate and conducive to the economic development of Hong Kong.

For relevant press release, please visit
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202208/23/P2022082300649.htm.
 

Travel Industry Authority took over licensing and regulatory functions of travel industry

The new regulatory regime of the travel industry established under the Travel Industry Ordinance (Cap. 634) has been implemented in full since 1 September 2022.  The Travel Industry Authority (TIA) has taken over the functions of the Travel Agents Registry (TAR) in respect of issuing licences to travel agents, and the functions of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) in respect of issuing passes to tourist guides and tour escorts, and regulating the industry respectively.  The TIA is also responsible for managing the Travel Industry Compensation Fund and collecting levies from travel agents.  The TAR was disbanded and the TIC has ceased its works in relation to issuing passes and regulation on the same day.

For details, please visit the TIA website (https://www.tia.org.hk/en/) or see the relevant press release (https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202208/31/P2022083100236.htm).
 

Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme invites new round of applications

The Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) is inviting a new round of applications from non-profit-distributing organisations such as professional bodies, trade and industrial organisations and research institutes.

The PASS aims at funding non-profit-making industry-led projects to increase exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong's professional services and external counterparts, promote relevant publicity activities, and enhance the standards and external competitiveness of Hong Kong's professional services.

The maximum grant under the PASS for each approved project is 90 per cent of the total eligible project cost or $3 million, whichever is lower.  A wide range of professional services, such as accounting, legal and dispute resolution, architecture, engineering, healthcare, information and communications technology, design and technical testing and analysis, are eligible for the PASS.  Sector-specific projects and cross-sectoral projects are both welcome.  Funding support may also be provided for travel and accommodation costs incurred by participants of relatively longer professional internship or attachment programmes outside Hong Kong which are funded by the PASS.

With a view to stepping up the promotion of Hong Kong's competitive edges and professional services to the Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and overseas markets, $50 million has been set aside for a new programme, namely the Professionals Participation Subsidy Programme (PSP), under the PASS to subsidise major professional bodies to participate in relevant activities organised by the Government (such as overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council after the pandemic situation has stabilised.  Details of the PSP and the latest list of eligible activities are available at https://www.pass.gov.hk/psp/. Hong Kong professionals from the eligible professional sectors under the PASS may make use of the PSP subsidy to join the relevant activities.

The PASS receives applications all year round and they are processed on a quarterly basis.  The deadline for the new round of applications is 30 November 2022.  A briefing session will be held in September 2022 for organisations interested in applying for PASS funding.  For registration for the briefing session or other enquiries, please contact the PASS Secretariat at 3655 5418 or pass@cedb.gov.hk.

For details, please visit PASS website at https://www.pass.gov.hk/index.html or relevant press release at https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202209/01/P2022090100299.htm.

In view of the cash-flow pressure of SMEs, SUCCESS has compiled a summary of support measures relating to liquidity.

More Details
 

SME ReachOut

Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund)

The TID has rolled out an enhancement to the BUD Fund on 27 June 2022.

To further support enterprises in making use of the better protection afforded by Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (IPPAs) to develop more diversified markets, the geographical scope of the BUD Fund has been extended with an addition of two economies with which Hong Kong has signed IPPAs, namely Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

The geographical scope of the BUD Fund has been extended, in three phases since July 2021, from 20 economies with which Hong Kong has signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to cover 37 economies1 with which Hong Kong has signed FTAs and/or IPPAs.

The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) as the BUD Fund implementation partner regularly organises seminars/webinars in order to enhance enterprises’ understanding of the BUD Fund.  For more details of the BUD Fund, please visit its website (https://www.bud.hkpc.org/en) or contact the HKPC at 2788 6088. 

1Besides the two newly added economies of Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, the other 35 economies covered under the BUD Fund are the Mainland, New Zealand, the four member states of the European Free Trade Association (i.e. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), Chile, Macao, the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (comprising Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam), Georgia, Australia, Japan, Korea, Austria, Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.