So far, the government has approved 13 local production lines for its Local Mask Production Subsidy Scheme – which provides subsidies of up to HK$3 million to firms that can manufacture masks here in Hong Kong for government use. The subsidies are to help cover the costs of equipment and setting up the production lines, along with any expenditure over testing and standards compliance issues. These are the prerequisites, irrespective of whether they are produced in Hong Kong or under any sort of scheme. They need to be subject to these consumer protections.”The government scheme will only subsidise seven more production lines in addition to the 13 already approved. The Hong Kong Productivity Council says there are still 26 applications involving 33 production lines which meet all the eligibility criteria of the scheme.

Source: The Standard April 17, 2020 07:50 UTC