The Amusement Game Centres Subsidy Scheme and the Mahjong/Tin Kau Licence Holder Subsidy Scheme under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund will open for application on February 21.

The Government has rolled out the sixth round of the fund to provide the needed support to businesses hard hit by the pandemic and the prolonged tightening of social distancing measures.

A subsidy of $100,000 will be given to each eligible operator of an amusement game centre licensed under the Amusement Game Centres Ordinance, eligible operators of e-sports venues that have been duly exempted or have applied for but not yet obtained exemption from the same ordinance and eligible operators of Internet computer services centres registered with the Office of the Licensing Authority under the Home Affairs Department.

A subsidy of $100,000 will also be given to each eligible holder of a Mahjong/Tin Kau licence issued under the Gambling Ordinance.

Application forms and guides for both schemes can be downloaded from the licensing authority’s website from February 21.

The licensing authority will also send emails or letters to the relevant licence holders or persons-in-charge of the premises to advise them about the subsidy schemes.

The application deadline for both schemes is March 21.

Meanwhile, the Home Affairs Bureau announced today that the Government has launched another edition of the Arts & Culture Sector Subsidy Scheme under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund.

The bureau will provide a one-off subsidy of $80,000 to each of the eligible performing arts groups which are affected by the epidemic.

The bureau will also entrust the Arts Development Council and The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong to provide a one-off subsidy of $10,000 to each eligible individual arts practitioner and freelancer who had earlier benefited from the Arts & Culture Sector Subsidy Scheme. They do not need to apply separately.

Eligible arts practitioners and freelancers who newly entered into the sector and who had not benefited from the fifth round of the fund may apply to the Arts Development Council from February 23.

Also, the bureau will provide rental concession at 75% for tenants of Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre and arts spaces run by the Arts Development Council from April 1 to September 30.

The Government will also provide a one-off subsidy of $100,000 to each eligible company of the performing industry through the Performing Industry Association.

The bureau expects that the subsidies will be disbursed in batches from March.