Rates and Government Rent

Rates Concession 2024 – 25

The Financial Secretary announced in the 2024-25 Budget Speech to provide rates concession for the first quarter of 2024-25, subject to a ceiling of $1,000 for each rateable property. Corresponding arrangements in respect of rates subsidy are as follows:

(a)

Quarterly payment of rates subsidy to Aided schools, Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools, Caput schools and kindergarten-cum-child care centres which were former aided child care centres^#

(i) Schools with quarterly rates over $1,000

$1,000 will be deducted from the subsidy for the quarter from April 2024 to June 2024.

(ii) Schools with quarterly rates less than $1,000

No rates subsidy will be paid for the quarter from April 2024 to June 2024.

(b)

Monthly payment of rates subsidy to aided special schools, kindergartens^#, kindergarten-cum-child care centres (including former aided child care centres)^# and study rooms

An equivalent amount of rates concession on a monthly basis will be offset against the subsidy for the respective month from April 2024 to June 2024.

(c)

Reimbursement based on receipted demand note or direct settlement with Rating and Valuation Department, where applicable, to kindergartens^#, kindergarten-cum-child care centres^#, non-profit making private / private independent schools, English Schools Foundation (ESF) schools and post-secondary institutes

The existing arrangement will remain unchanged.

For enquiries, please contact the Capital and Kindergarten Subventions Section / Recurrent Subventions Section of Education Bureau according to the school types as follows:

Capital and Kindergarten Subventions Section
Kindergartens joining the Kindergarten Education Scheme	2892 6465
Recurrent Subventions Section
Aided Primary Schools	2892 6232
Aided Secondary Schools	2892 6233
Aided Special Schools	2892 6234
DSS, Caput and ESF Schools	2892 6235
Others	2892 5766

^# Regardless whether the kindergarten or kindergarten-cum-child care centre is approved to join the Kindergarten Education Scheme or not, as appropriate

Reimbursement of Government Rent

Annex III to the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Article 121 of the Basic Law stipulate the charging of an annual Government rent at a rate of 3% of the rateable value of the property for the extension of lease not containing a right of renewal that expired before 30 June 1997. All land leases whether in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon or the New Territories which have been granted since 27 May 1985 will also be subject to this rent from 1 July 1997.

All eligible schools may apply for reimbursement of Government rents for the school portions. Supervisors of schools already receiving reimbursement of rates may submit their applications together with a copy of the demand notes for Government rents to the respective Senior School Development Officers. New applications for reimbursement of rates and Government rents should be supported by the exemption certificate issued under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance, Cap.112.

For enquiries, please contact the respective Senior School Development Officers.