For electronic applications or applications submitted by email, submission of paper-based application form is not required.

If the applicant organisation chooses to submit the application online, it should download a soft copy of the application form for record. Under normal circumstances, the Secretariat will not provide a copy of the application to the applicant organisation.

For applications submitted by post, the postmark should be dated on or before the application closing date. Otherwise, it will be regarded as late applications. Please ensure payment of sufficient postage as the Secretariat will not accept underpaid mails. (Note: Paper-based applications would not be accepted for Publicity and Education Projects).

In case the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above is hoisted, or the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal/Extreme Weather Condition announced by the Government is/are in force for any duration between 12:00 noon and 6:00 pm on the application closing date, the application closing time will be postponed to 6:00 pm on the next working day.

Duly completed application form together with any supplementary or supporting documents must be submitted to the Secretariat on or before the closing date. Late or incomplete applications, and applications not submitted in accordance with the format prescribed will not be processed.

[Before Application Deadline]
Applicant organisations may re-submit the application form before the application deadline and the latest submission will be used by the Secretariat for vetting. Applicant organisations are required to provide the best and fullest information in their applications, and the Secretariat is not obliged to request for additional information from applicant organisations. Late submissions will not be processed.

[After Application Deadline]
Applicant organisations are not allowed to change the particulars in the submitted application form in the online system. Therefore, applicant organisations are advised to ensure that the information provided therein is complete and correct before the submission.

Applicant organisations may submit applications according to their actual needs. Under normal circumstances, for an applicant organisation with two on-going projects under the same funding scheme, its new applications with the same commencement period will not be approved.

As for the Research and Development Projects where the principal investigator is already undertaking two approved on-going research and/or technology demonstration projects and one on-going conference project, under normal circumstances, applications submitted by the principal investigator with the same commencement period will not be approved.

The applicant organisation should clearly list out the availability of other sources of sponsorship(s), both confirmed and being applied, for the project, and state clearly which parts of the project will be funded by these sources of other sponsorship(s) and how these parts are related to the parts to be funded by the ECF.

Normally, no funding will be granted for relevant expenses for project activities/work starting before an approval is given by the Vetting Sub-committee.

There are a number of funding schemes/programmes under the ECF with different nature, objectives and service areas. Organisations may refer to the projects funded by different funding schemes/programmes in the past and their latest guides to application, and make decisions based on various factors such as the contents of the activities of the proposed project. Relevant information has been uploaded onto the ECF website. (Website -> Applications/Approved Projects)

On vetting the extension of a project, due consideration will be given to general consideration factors and whether the project shows enhancement/improvement in different aspects, such as adding new elements, improving performance and/or optimising the contents of the original project, etc., as well as gradually diminishing reliance on the ECF funding support without compromising the project performance.
Normally, the same project will not be approved for extension more than twice.

The applicant organisation may write to the Secretariat (by email, facsimile or post) to withdraw an application at any time before an agreement is signed with the Government.

All applications must be submitted within the specified period for each round of application. Late applications will not be accepted.

The approval processes will normally be completed within six months after the closing of the application deadline.

The Secretariat will notify the applicant organisations of the approval results in writing by post or email.

The applicant organisation may revise and improve the contents of the proposed project submitted in the previous unsuccessful application, and re-submit it in subsequent rounds of applications. In the re-submission, the applicant organisation should clearly set out the differences between the re-submitted proposal and rejected one for consideration purposes. All applications received in the same round (including re-submitted and new applications) will be considered on an equal footing.