EDUCATION BUREAU CIRCULAR MEMORANDUM NO. 48/2022
From: Permanent Secretary for Education To: Supervisors and Principals of all Kindergartens, Kindergarten-cum- Child Care Centres and Schools with Kindergarten Classes NOT Joining the Kindergarten Education Scheme Ref.: L/M(2) to EDB(KGA)/KE/49/1(10)
Date: 17 February 2022
One-off Grant to Kindergartens
for Kindergartens Not Joining the Kindergarten Education Scheme under the Sixth Round of Anti-epidemic Fund
Summary
The purpose of this circular memorandum (CM) is to inform kindergartens, kindergarten-cum-child care centres and schools with kindergarten classes NOT joining the kindergarten education scheme (collectively referred to as “non-Scheme KGs” hereafter) of the details of the One-off Grant to Kindergartens (KGs) under the sixth round of Anti-epidemic Fund (One-off Grant).
Details
Background
2. In view of the spreading of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in Hong Kong recently, all primary schools, KGs and KG-cum-child care centres in Hong Kong have suspended face- to-face classes and all on-campus activities since mid-January 2022. Since the latest epidemic situation is very severe, the Education Bureau (EDB) announces that all schools concerned will continue the suspension of face-to-face classes and on-campus activities until 6 March 2022. To further alleviate KGs’ financial hardship arising from the continued suspension of face-to-face classes, subsequent to the provision of the One-off Grant under the fifth round of Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF) in February 2022, the government will further provide a One-off Grant (the Grant) of $80,000 to each non-Scheme KG under the sixth round of AEF.
Documents required
3. This Grant is a one-off grant and no application is required. The Grant will be credited directly to school’s bank account. Schools having received the One-off Grant under the fifth round of AEF in late February 2022 are not required to submit any documents. This
$80,000 Grant will continue to be credited to the school’s bank account by auto pay. The EDB will disburse the Grant to schools as soon as possible after obtaining the funding. In case the schools concerned opt for not receiving this $80,000 Grant, they should inform their respective District School Development Section / Joint Office for Kindergartens and Child Care Centres in writing on or before 4 March 2022.
4. In addition, for schools in first receipt of the Grant, or those which need to update the bank account information, they are required to submit the duly completed “Declaration of School Supervisor” (Part A of Appendix 1) and form GF179A “Authority for Payment to a Bank”. For schools using a bank account with the name different from the school name, they are required to complete both Part A and B of Appendix 1 and attach relevant information and form. Schools are required to submit the original copy of the duly completed
2
documents to their respective District School Development Section / Joint Office for Kindergartens and Child Care Centres on or before 4 March 2022.
Financial and Accounting arrangements
5. Schools must ensure that the Grant is used for operating the KG and for education purposes of students. The Grant shall not be used to subsidise any other activities not relating to the operation of KG. If a non-Scheme KG violates the aforementioned principle of usage when using the Grant, the EDB reserves the right to demand the refund of the improperly spent subsidies within the period and in the amount as specified by the EDB in writing.
6. KGs should keep separate ledger account for the Grant to properly record all income and expenditure of the Grant. All books of accounts, receipts, payment vouchers and invoices must be kept by KGs for accounting and auditing purposes. The relevant records should be kept for a minimum period of seven years for inspection of the EDB as necessary. KGs are reminded to follow the related procurement procedures of goods and services as stipulated in Appendix 2 of the EDB Circular No. 16/2013 when procuring goods and services.
Enquiry
7. For enquiries, please contact the respective Senior School Development Officers/
Senior Services Officers.
Ms Y Y SO
for Permanent Secretary for Education
c.c. Heads of Sections – for information
Appendix 1
To: Permanent Secretary for Education
(Attn: _______________________ District School Development Section / Joint Office for Kindergartens and Child Care Centres*)
Declaration of the School Supervisor
Part A:
I, ___________________(name), as the Supervisor of ________________________________
(name of school), hereby request the Education Bureau to credit the full amount of the One-off Grant into the bank account of ________________________________ (payee’s name), of the account number ______________________________ (Personal bank account NOT accepted), and submit the duly completed GF179A. I understand and will abide by the terms stipulated in EDBCM No.
48/2022.
Part B (Only applicable to schools receiving the Grant with account name different from the school name)
The reason(s) for using the above bank account of which the name is different from the school name is/ are as follows -
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Enclosed herewith (i) the supporting documents showing the connection between the school and the company/ organization holding the account; (ii) Appendix 1a for the above company/
organization to receive the Grant; and (iii) duly completed GF179A by the above company/
organization.
Full Name of KG (Identical to the registered
school name)：
School Registration Number：
Signature of Supervisor：
Name of Supervisor：
Contact Number of Supervisor :
Date：
[*Please delete as appropriate]
(Please tick)
First receipt
Change bank account information
Appendix 1a
[Attention: To be printed with letterhead bearing the name of company/
organization identical to the holder of the bank account.]
Collection of One-off Grant to Kindergartens (Only applicable to schools receiving the Grant with
account name different from the school name)
To: Permanent Secretary for Education
(Attn: _______________________ District School Development Section / Joint Office for Kindergartens and Child Care Centres*)
Our company / organization* _______________________________________________________
(name), hereby submits the duly completed form GF179A in collection of One-off Grant of _____________________________________________ (name of kindergarten).
(Note: The information filled in Part III of GF179A must be consistent with those submitted in this letter.)
Full Name of the Company/
Organization*
(Identical to the chop)：
Signature of the Authorized Person ：
Name of the Authorized Person：
Contact Number of the Authorized Person :
Date：
[*Please delete as appropriate]
C o m p a n y / O r g an i z a ti o n
C h o p
