A1

Through the Built Heritage Conservation Fund (BHCF), the Government offers funding for public education, community involvement and publicity projects with a view to –

1. strengthening community awareness and knowledge of built heritage conservation;
2. mobilising the public, private owners of historic buildings and other stakeholders to take direct and positive action to conserve and revitalise the historic buildings; and
3. enhancing public participation and increasing volunteering opportunities in heritage conservation works.

All projects supported under the BHCF should target at enhancing the heritage awareness and knowledge of the participants, mobilising action and inducing behavioural changes to conserve built heritage, with positive impact on the heritage conservation and measurable and tangible outcomes against the objectives set for the projects. Projects should identify effective, and where possible, innovative, means to achieve the objectives.

A2

Eligible applicant must be a local non-profit making organisation (NPO) (e.g. non-government organisation (NGO), post-secondary education institution, community organisation or professional institution) having legal capacity to enter into contract and has involved in built heritage conservation, excluding operators of projects under the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme (“Revitalisation Scheme”) that are receiving Government’s one-off grant to meet the starting costs and operating deficit (if any) for the first two years of operation on the date of application for this Funding Scheme. Applicant shall refer to paragraph 5 of the Guide to Application to submit the relevant supporting documents.

A3

The Person-in-Charge (PIC) shall be one of the principal persons-in-charge, directors, office-bearer or board members as shown in the documentary proof provided by the applicant or any other person as accepted by the BHCF Secretariat. The PIC shall have the authority to sign the Funding Agreement on behalf of the applicant, be accountable for the project implementation, and be responsible for endorsing project submissions. In the event that the application is approved, the PIC will become the representative of the applicant.

A4

The Project Leader must be a member or employee of the applicant. S/he will be the representative of the project and act as the key person to carry out the project in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Funding Agreement. The Project Leader will be the contact point of the applicant during the application and project operation and will be responsible for responding to comments and enquiries from the BHCF Secretariat. The curriculum vitae (at most 2 pages) of the proposed Project Leader shall also be submitted together with the application.

A5

No, each eligible applicant could only submit one application each time and each application must be submitted by a single organisation which is the single contact point of and accountable for its proposed project. Nevertheless, the eligible applicant is allowed to collaborate with other assisting, supporting or sponsoring bodies to implement the proposed project.

A6

Yes, applicant could submit application with the theme other than the priority project themes. Applicant should specify under “Other Theme” in Part 5 of the Application Form the relevance of the proposed project theme in relation to each of the three objectives of the Funding Scheme. However, priority would be given to applications related to the priority project themes. For details of the assessment criteria, please refer to clause 34 of the Guide to Application.

A7

The maximum amount of funding to be granted is HK$2 million for each project. The duration of each project shall last for no less than 12 months and no more than 24 months counting from the date of signing a funding agreement with the Government.

A8

There is no standard form of activities. However, the applicant is encouraged to design an appropriate mix of public engagement activities, including small group workshops/guided tours/site visits that ensure quality interaction between the tutors and participants; online activities (such as online lectures, workshops, forums and guided tours) and/or adopting hybrid mode (i.e. to allow participants to attend either physically or virtually via internet) to accommodate more participants of the public engagement activities and to expand the scope of participants regardless of their location, age and physical ability.

Besides, applicant is encouraged to provide a solid proposal on the active engagement of youth force in the planning and implementation of the project and activities in the application proposal.

Examples are provided in Appendix II of the Guide to Application as reference for the applicant to complete relevant part of the Application Form. Proposal with a solid plan on the engagement would be considered in accordance with the relevant assessment criteria as set out in clause 34 of the Guide to Application.

A9

The amount of initial payment and the final disbursement are fixed at 20% and 10% of the approved grant respectively. The remaining funds will be disbursed by instalments upon the acceptance of each half-yearly progress report together with the statement of accounts. The percentage of the total approved funds to be disbursed at each instalment is proposed by the applicant in accordance with the project duration in the Application Form for consideration and agreement of the Advisory Committee on Built Heritage Conservation.

For example, for a project with duration of 18 months, the approved funds will be disbursed in five instalments:

1. Initial payment (to be released upon signing of the Funding Agreement);
2. Second payment (to be released in the 6^th month upon the acceptance of the first half-yearly progress report);
3. Third payment (to be released in the 12^th month upon the acceptance of the second half-yearly progress report and annual audited statement of accounts);
4. Fourth payment (to be released in the 18^th month upon the acceptance of the third half-yearly progress report); and
5. Final payment (to be released upon the acceptance of Project Evaluation Report and the final audited statement of accounts which should be submitted within four months upon completion of all project activities (i.e. the 22^nd month)).

A10

ONE original hard copy and ONE duplicated copy of the completed and signed Application Form (i.e. Appendix III) which should be stamped with the official organisation or company chop, and the budget plan (i.e. Appendix VI).

ONE set of copies of the supporting documents as specified under the “Checklist of Required Documents” of the Application Form.

ONE CD-ROM disc containing soft copy of the completed Application Form and the supporting documents.

The above shall be delivered by hand or post on or before 12:00 noon on the closing date to the Secretariat of the Built Heritage Conservation Fund at Room 701B, Empire Centre, 68 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

A11

All eligible applications will be assessed by the ACBHC, which will give recommendations on the allocation of funds under BHCF for approval by the Secretary for Development.

Besides, the BHCF Secretariat would check with other bureaux and departments to verify if the applicant is receiving or has received any Government financial support for the proposed project under any other funding schemes. Depending on the arrangement of other funding sources obtained, the BHCF Secretariat reserves the right to adjust the amount of grant or stop processing the application. In addition, the BHCF Secretariat will also consult other bureaux and departments for advice on the applicant’s track record on implementing other Government funded projects and report to the ACBHC for consideration when necessary.

A12

The assessment criteria with respective weighting are specified under clause 34 of the Guide to Application. The assessment areas include (a) Objectives and Project Theme, (b) Project Outcome, Impact and Sustainability, (c) Creativity, Project Effectiveness and Publicity, (d) Project Management, and (e) Finance and Budgetary Management.

A13

The Secretariat will notify the successful applicant of the results of the application through a letter of Approval-in-Principle (AIP Letter) together with a Funding Agreement. Upon receiving the AIP Letter, the successful applicant shall enter into a Funding Agreement within 14 days to confirm, amongst others, compliance with all the terms and conditions laid down in the Funding Agreement.

Grantee should commence and carry out the project within three months from the date of signing of Funding Agreement.

A14

Grantee is required to submit the following reports and documents to the BHCF Secretariat during the project operation as appropriate:

1. Project Schedule(s);
2. Half-yearly progress report(s);
3. Project evaluation report; and
4. Annual and/or final audited statement of accounts

The above-mentioned audited statement of accounts shall include but not limited to an Auditor’s report on the project to the Grantee, an Income and Expenditure Accounts, and Notes to the Accounts. The statement of accounts shall be audited and duly signed by certified public accountants (practising) within the meaning of section 2 of the Professional Accountants Ordinance (Cap. 50). This requirement is not applicable to Grantees which are post-secondary education institutions provided that the accounts are certified by their respective finance offices.

A15

Grantee shall not apply for or accept any donation or financial assistance from other sources for the same expenditure of the project funded by the BHCF as specified in the List of Approved Expenditure Items in the approved project proposal.

If the Grantee would like to seek additional sponsorship to top up items that are fully or partly funded by the BHCF or to items not funded by the BHCF after the approval of the project, the Grantee should submit to the Government for consideration and prior approval.

If sponsorship is/will be sought during the application stage, Grantee should provide the details in item 8 of the Application Form.

The Government would consider whether other sources of funds would constitute any conflict of interest, and whether they might cause any potential liability or damage to the image of the Government, the ACBHC, the BHCF and its Secretariat. Other sources of funds will be taken into account when applications are considered.

A16

Except for expenditure for project staff and contingency items, the Government may accept application to increase the approved amount of an individual item by up to 20% provided that the total amount to be paid will not exceed the total amount approved for the project.