Community Care Fund HK$6,000 grant: 230,000 new immigrants may apply from October

In September 2011, Community Care Fund executive committee chairman Dr Law Chi-kwong announced that eligible new arrivals could apply for a HK$6,000 allowance from the following month, with more than 230,000 people expected to benefit and payouts starting in November.

Who can apply for the Community Care Fund HK$6,000 grant?

Eligible applicants must have lived in Hong Kong for less than seven years as of 31 March 2012, have reached age 18 on or before that date, and come from low-income families — meaning the household has passed the means test of specified subsidy schemes, or its monthly income falls below the set limit.

How to apply: four steps

1. From 30 September, download the form from the Community Care Fund website; or collect one from 3 October 2011 to 30 June 2012 at Home Affairs Department district offices, Social Welfare Department district offices and Labour Department job centres.
2. Mail the completed form with supporting documents to the fund secretariat, or drop it into collection boxes at the district offices.
3. The secretariat sends a confirmation letter and vets each application; some are selected for full review.
4. All applicants receive a result notice; successful applicants get the grant from November via bank transfer or cashier’s cheque.

A nine-month application window

The window runs from 3 October 2011 to 30 June 2012 — nine months in all. Dr Law urged applicants to mail their forms rather than queue in person.

Nearly HK$1.4 billion; admin under 2%

The handout totals nearly HK$1.4 billion. A 160-strong temporary task force was set up, with administration for the whole exercise estimated at HK$20 million — below the 2% cap on total grants.