The Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme, operated by Cyberport with a funding allocation of $500 million from the Government, aims to accelerate the digital transformation of local small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Wider scope: The Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme was expanded in December 2024 to cover the tourism and personal services industries besides subsidising the food and beverage and retail industries. Source from news.gov.hk
The programme provides funding support on a 1:1 matching basis for SMEs to adopt ready-to-use digital solutions, including digital payment solutions and shopfront sales, online promotion, and customer management and loyalty solutions.
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Wider scope: The Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme was expanded in December 2024 to cover the tourism and personal services industries besides subsidising the food and beverage and retail industries. Source from news.gov.hk
Business expansion: Retail shop owner Li Mei-yung credits the Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme with growing her business. Source from news.gov.hk
Video screenshot from news.gov.hk
Greater efficiency: Cyberport Chief Public Mission Officer Eric Chan says the programme aims to accelerate the digital transformation of local SMEs and enhance their competitiveness. Source from news.gov.hk
Funding support is available for subsidised SMEs to cover up to 50% of the total project cost or a maximum of $50,000, whichever is lower.
Business boost
Li Mei-yung owns a ginseng and dried seafood shop in Shek Mun. She decided to apply for the programme last year.
As a result, the business has established an online shopping platform through an instant messaging software, allowing customers to browse product details and place orders at any time, from anywhere, significantly reducing the workload for frontline staff.
Promotions conducted via instant messaging software have also proven to be effective for expanding the customer base.
Ms Li said most of her customers are middle-aged neighbours and seniors, and she is looking to attract a younger clientele.
Business expansion: Retail shop owner Li Mei-yung credits the Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme with growing her business. Source from news.gov.hk
“As we all know, online shopping is more convenient. After we installed the system, we could inform members about which products are affordable and discounted.
“Many young people prefer not to use cash for their purchases. They believe that online shopping is more convenient as you can shop without visiting the store in person.
“I applied for the Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme, and as a result, our business grew by about 10%.”
Video screenshot from news.gov.hk
Wider reach
Following positive feedback to the programme, it was expanded in December 2024 to cover the tourism and personal services industries besides subsidising the food and beverage and retail industries.
Cyberport Chief Public Mission Officer Eric Chan pointed out that the programme can address several issues SMEs encounter on their digital transformation journey.
“Many of those SMEs, they recognise the importance of digital transformation but they tended to have difficulties in implementing the systems in the past because of the lack of funding, the lack of technical knowledge as well as the difficulty in choosing the right solution providers.
“Through providing the funding, then we have a whole committee to help SMEs pick the right solutions, so as to guarantee the quality, to improve the overall business efficiency and help them to get more customers and retain the existing customers as well as improve convenience through digital payment and front store automation.”
Greater efficiency: Cyberport Chief Public Mission Officer Eric Chan says the programme aims to accelerate the digital transformation of local SMEs and enhance their competitiveness. Source from news.gov.hk
Smooth process
As of the end of December 2024, Cyberport has received over 5,300 applications.
The programme has provided more than 810 solution packages from over 110 solution providers for SMEs to select from.
The vetting process will normally be completed within two months after receiving complete information from the applicants.
TD urges public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips early during long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays
The Transport Department (TD) announced today (April 1) that, in anticipation of a large number of members of the public, visitors and cross-boundary vehicles visiting land-based boundary control points (BCPs) during the long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays, cross-boundary travellers are urged to use public transport services travelling between Hong Kong and the Mainland or Macao, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time.
Enhancing services for travel convenience
The TD has been steering local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services during the long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays to accommodate the diverse travelling needs of passengers, including:
- The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line (ERL) between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau Stations at different times during the above period based on passenger demand for the convenience of residents and visitors;
- Increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) to an average of about one minute during peak hours, if needed;
- Increasing the frequency of the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) to an average of about two minutes during peak hours, if needed;
- Increasing the quota of cross-boundary coaches to strengthen services; and
- The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land-based BCPs will also be increased to a level higher than that of normal weekends, and the operators concerned will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand.
Travel during non-peak hours
It is anticipated that the waiting time for public transport services, including the Gold Bus and the franchised bus B routes, may be longer. Passengers are advised to travel during non-peak hours, maintain order while queuing and heed advice from on-site Police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers planning to take cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.
Of note, HZMB users to Zhuhai should note that the temporary link bridge connecting HZMB Zhuhai Port and Qinglu South Road has been closed to all traffic. They should use public transport services as far as possible, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time. The traffic of Zhuhai Port and neighbouring roads may also be affected, and passengers should remain patient while waiting.
As for motorists of cross-boundary private cars crossing the border, they are advised that special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau and the Shenzhen Bay Port, subject to actual traffic conditions, during the long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays to secure smooth access for public transport vehicles to the above BCPs. Cross-boundary private cars may experience longer waiting times for crossing the BCPs during peak periods. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site Police.
Information dissemination
For the HZMB, to plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile app or website (hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv) to access snapshots of traffic conditions at inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts "hzmbzhport" or "zhuhaifabu" (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with the traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles must not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority.
The public and visitors may visit the one-stop information platform on immigration clearance "Easy Boundary" (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound) of the Security Bureau or the HKeMobility for the latest information on various land-based BCPs more conveniently. The TD will provide information on the services and waiting times of the Gold Bus, the Yellow Bus and the MTR. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) and the HKeMobility.
The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of various districts, the BCPs and major stations, and to implement contingency measures when necessary to meet service demands.
The Transport Department (TD), Photo by Bastille Post
