Green fund disburses MOP5 million-plus in 1Q15

The Environmental Protection and Energy Conservation Fund has granted more than MOP5.6 million in the first quarter of 2015, as announced by the Environmental Protection Bureau and published in the government’s Official Gazette yesterday.
Among the institutions and individuals subsidised, Golden Resorts Group Hotel Investment Limited has received half a million patacas, comprising the largest share. Recipient of the second largest subsidy is Macau Sun Tou Tong Charitable Committee, which received MOP491,120.
The fund was launched in 2011 to subsidise companies and associations purchasing environmentally friendly technology, equipment and other related products. The fund covers up to 80 per cent of the cost of acquisition, or up to 500,000 patacas per grant. Once the subsidy has been granted, the applicant cannot apply again within one year on the principle of fairness according to the regulations.
During the government’s Policy Address of the Transport and Public Works sector that took place last week at the Legislative Assembly, the director of the Environmental Protection Bureau, Vai Hoi Ieong, when answering questions from legislators said that since the fund had been established in September 2011 as at April 2015 over MOP320 million had been disbursed among 3,600 applications.
The Bureau director said that there were dozens of cases in which applicants hadn’t installed equipment according to the requirements. The Bureau has asked for explanations from some subsidy recipients, with the return of some subsidies demanded. Regarding some violation of suppliers, the Bureau has informed the relevant departments for follow-up.
The president of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Vong Iao Lek, also signed off a total of MOP152,200 worth of subsidies to various associations in the first quarter of 2015.
Of these, the General Union of Neighbourhoods Association received the lion’s share of MOP45,000 for an event called ‘Create New Environment for Community Togetherness 2015’. Meanwhile, the OX Warehouse received two settlements of MOP15,900 and MOP25,300 each, for two art exhibitions.
The Macao Monetary Authority gave a total of MOP137,429 to its sports committee in two settlements to subsidise it to organise events in the first three months of the year.
During the same period, the Marine and Water Bureau granted the Macau Fishermen’s Mutual Help Association MOP159,624 as a subsidy for the collection of domestic garbage on fishing boats during Lunar New Year.