Article overview
Closed programmeThe Distance Business Programme (D-Biz) was a COVID-19 Anti-epidemic Fund measure administered by HKPC. It opened in May 2020 and closed to applications on 31 October 2020. HKPC announced enhancements in August 2020, including rules for a second application; the programme no longer accepts applications.The 18 August 2020 changesFrom 9am on 31 August 2020, an enterprise could submit a second application only after receiving and replying to the Secretariat about its first result. The second application could cover categories not already approved in the first application; the programme’s aggregate funding ceiling remained HK$300,000 per enterprise. HKPC also extended the supported period for subscription-based IT solutions from six to twelve months, including qualifying earlier approvals; lifted the rule that treated certain related companies as one applicant; and allowed social enterprises holding the relevant Hong Kong Council of Social Service certificate to apply. These were changes to a programme that closed on 31 October 2020.How the category rule workedThe 2020 category rule can be seen in two examples. Example 1: if Category 1 (online business) was approved in the first application, the second application could select up to three categories from Categories 2–12, but could not repeat Category 1. Example 2: if Category 1 was unsuccessful while Categories 7 and 8 were approved, the second application could include Category 1 again and choose other categories, but could not repeat the already approved Categories 7 and 8. At the time, examples of supplier offerings included Shopify or WooCommerce store setup, online appointment or event booking, email marketing automation, live chat and a WhatsApp Business chatbot. These examples describe the 2020 market and category discussion; they are not current products promised funding or evidence that a new application can be made.
Closed programme
The Distance Business Programme (D-Biz) was a COVID-19 Anti-epidemic Fund measure administered by HKPC. It opened in May 2020 and closed to applications on 31 October 2020. HKPC announced enhancements in August 2020, including rules for a second application; the programme no longer accepts applications.
The 18 August 2020 changes
From 9am on 31 August 2020, an enterprise could submit a second application only after receiving and replying to the Secretariat about its first result. The second application could cover categories not already approved in the first application; the programme’s aggregate funding ceiling remained HK$300,000 per enterprise. HKPC also extended the supported period for subscription-based IT solutions from six to twelve months, including qualifying earlier approvals; lifted the rule that treated certain related companies as one applicant; and allowed social enterprises holding the relevant Hong Kong Council of Social Service certificate to apply. These were changes to a programme that closed on 31 October 2020.
How the category rule worked
The 2020 category rule can be seen in two examples. Example 1: if Category 1 (online business) was approved in the first application, the second application could select up to three categories from Categories 2–12, but could not repeat Category 1. Example 2: if Category 1 was unsuccessful while Categories 7 and 8 were approved, the second application could include Category 1 again and choose other categories, but could not repeat the already approved Categories 7 and 8. At the time, examples of supplier offerings included Shopify or WooCommerce store setup, online appointment or event booking, email marketing automation, live chat and a WhatsApp Business chatbot. These examples describe the 2020 market and category discussion; they are not current products promised funding or evidence that a new application can be made.
Current next steps
For a current digital transformation project, define business needs and compare suppliers on function, ownership, support and total cost. Check the official Hong Kong funding directory for programmes actually accepting applications; do not treat D-Biz or the Technology Voucher Programme as open—the latter stopped accepting new applications after 31 December 2024.
