The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) today released a guideline on the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme (GSF Grant Scheme) as announced in the 2021-22 Budget.
The GSF Grant Scheme will provide subsidy for eligible bond issuers and loan borrowers to cover their expenses on bond issuance and external review services. It will commence on 10 May 2021 and last for three years.
The guideline on the GSF Grant Scheme is set out in this link.
Commenting on the GSF Grant Scheme, Mr Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the HKMA, said, “The global green bond market has grown from practically non-existent ten years ago to US$270 billion in 2020. In Hong Kong, we have taken early and proactive steps to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a regional green and sustainable finance hub, including the issuance of two rounds of Government green bonds since 2019 and the establishment of the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group to coordinate cross-agency market development efforts. The launch of a new Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme to support green and sustainable bond issuance and lending will further enrich the green and sustainable finance ecosystem in Hong Kong.”
Hong Kong Monetary Authority
4 May 2021