FAQ
I. Aim 

1. What is the aim of setting up the Continuing Education Fund (CEF)?
¡ÐThe CEF aims to subsidise adults (aged 18 to 65) with learning aspirations to pursue continuing education and training course.

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II. Eligibility

1. What are the eligibility criteria? Any restrictions?
¡ÐApplicants should meet the following criteria:
  • Aged from 18 to 65 at the time of application and on seeking reimbursement of their fees;
  • Are Hong Kong residents who have the right of abode or the right to land or to remain in Hong Kong without restriction, i.e. ¡§A¡¨ (right of abode), ¡§R¡¨ (right to land) or ¡§U¡¨ (remain in Hong Kong without restriction) should appear below the date of birth on the HK Smart ID card. For details of the meaning of symbols, please visit the website of the Immigration Department http://www.immd.gov.hk. Holders of one-way permits from Mainland China may also apply. ( A copy of the one-way permit and the HK Smart ID card should be attached to the Application Form (SFAA 192));
  • Have enrolled in and paid the tuition fee on equal monthly instalments basis for a reimbursable course before the course commences;
    [Remarks : All CEF course providers are required to collect the tuition fees of CEF courses on an equal monthly instalments basis except those which have been granted exemption by the Secretary for the Labour and Welfare Bureau. For the list of the exempted courses, please refer to "Reimbursable Course List" in our website http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/cef/text/course.htm]
  • Have not obtained any other public funds or publicly-funded financial assistance for the same course; and
  • Application should be submitted before the course commences.
2. Can an applicant submit multiple applications to CEF?
¡ÐEach applicant may obtain approval for opening an account with CEF once a lifetime only. Applicants who have obtained approval in-principle for opening a CEF account may enroll in other reimbursable course(s) and need not submit a second application. Applicants who withdraw their applications of their own accord may not submit further applications for account opening.

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3. Are there any age restrictions?
¡ÐPersons who are aged 18 to 65 at the time of application and on seeking reimbursement of their fees may apply.

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4. Why is there a limitation on age ?
¡ÐWe reckon that there is a need for people of all age groups to pursue continuous education and training. However, as funding is limited 6.2 billions, in order to bring about benefits to the community at large and to enhance Hong Kong's overall competitiveness, we need to set appropriate parameters on eligibility criteria, such as the age of applicants. Since the Fund aims to better prepare the labour force of Hong Kong for the transition to a knowledge-based economy, the upper age limit for applying CEF is thus set at 65. 

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5. Can applicants concurrently seek financial assistance from other organisations?
¡ÐApplicants should not apply for reimbursement of their fees from CEF if they have applied or intend to apply for assistance towards their tuition fees from any other public funds or publicly-funded student financial assistance scheme, such as pursuing courses funded by the University Grants Committee, grants or loans from the Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students administered by the Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) etc.

 Loans for tuition fee payments obtained from the publicly-funded Non-means-tested Loan Scheme (NLS) administered by SFAA are not subsidised loans. If such loans are borrowed towards the payment of fees for a reimbursable course of study recognised for the purpose of CEF, the fees may be eligible for reimbursement subject to all other criteria being met. The CEF reimbursement would be used to offset any outstanding NLS loans so borrowed by the applicant for paying the tuition fee in respect of the same course. Any remaining balance of the CEF reimbursement after offsetting will be credited to the designated account of the applicant.

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6. Where can I obtain further information on the Non-means Tested Loan Scheme?
¡ÐPlease visit the website of the Student Financial Assistance Agency http://www.sfaa.gov.hk or call 2150 6222 for information.

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7. If an applicant has completed part of the programme before the launching of the CEF scheme, can he/she apply for financial assistance in respect of the completed courses?
¡ÐApplicants should apply to CEF before the course commences. Courses completed before the launching of the CEF scheme will not be considered.

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8. If an applicant fails to complete the initial course he/she has enrolled in, is it necessary for him/her to apply to CEF again?
¡ÐAn applicant who has successfully opened a CEF account may submit a maximum of 4 claims for reimbursement and, in any event, within 4 years from the date that the application was approved. If the applicant can complete other reimbursable course(s), he/she can claim reimbursement in respect of the completed courses without making an application to CEF again. Nevertheless, each applicant is entitled to a maximum sum of HK$10,000.

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9. If an applicant has obtained the financial assistance under CEF, can he/she still have any tax deduction on expenses of self-education ?
  ¡ÐTo avoid double subsidy, the applicant can only apply for tax deduction in respect of the course fee balance (i.e. the difference between the actual fee paid and the financial assistance from CEF). If you have any queries on the Inland Revenue Ordinance, please contact the Inland Revenue Department direct for enquiries.

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10. Can an applicant apply for assistance after he/she has completed and passed the course(s)?
  ¡ÐApplicants should submit their applications before the courses start, and as soon as they have been enrolled in a reimbursable course, not after the completion of the courses.

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11. Under what circumstances will an application be rejected?
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  • Applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria of CEF.
  • Late applications.
  • Applicants who withdraw their applications on their own accord may not submit further applications.
  • Applicants have obtained in-principle approval before.

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12. Are fees paid for different courses reimbursable?
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¡ÐReimbursement can cover the course fees of different reimbursable courses. An applicant will be allowed four opportunities to claim reimbursement within four years from the date in-principle approval was given, subject to 80% of the fees or maximum sum of HK$10,000, whichever is the less.

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13. Is there any limitation on residency status under CEF ?
¡@ ¡ÐTo be eligible for applying CEF, applicants should be Hong Kong residents who have the right of abode or the right to land or to remain in Hong Kong without restriction, i.e. ¡§A¡¨ (right of abode), ¡§R¡¨ (right to land) or ¡§U¡¨ (remain in Hong Kong without restriction) should appear below the date of birth on the HK Smart ID card. For details of the meaning of symbols, please visit the website of the Immigration Department http://www.immd.gov.hk. Holders of one-way permits from Mainland China may also apply. ( A copy of the one-way permit and the HK Smart ID card should be attached to the application form ).

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III. Application Procedures

1. How can an applicant submit Application Form (SFAA 192)?
2. Can an applicant submit his/her Application Form (SFAA 192) through the Internet?
3. Can an applicant submit Application Form (SFAA 192) in person?

¡ÐThe completed application form together with a photocopy of the HK Smart ID Card and if applicable one-way permit should be submitted in person or by post to the Office of the Continuing Education Fund (OCEF), Room 916, 9/F, Kwai Hing Government Offices, 166-174 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Chung, N.T. Computer scanned or fax copies are not accepted.

¡ÐAn applicant can also place his/her completed application form together with a photocopy of the HK Smart ID Card and if applicable one-way permit into the CEF drop-in box on 12/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon.

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4. Where to get the Application Form (SFAA 192)?
¡ÐComplete the application form which can be obtained from District Offices and OCEF, or downloaded from CEF website (http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/cef) or fill in online application form available on the website of GovHK and then print the filled form (http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/forms/). Moreover, application form can be obtained by fax through hotline 3142 2277 (Handled by the staff of ¡§1823 Call Centre¡¨).

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5. Any deadline for applications?
¡ÐApplication for opening an account with OCEF should be submitted before the course commenced. The date of receipt of the application by OCEF will be taken as the date of application. Late applications will not be accepted. All applications are processed on a first-come-first-served basis. In the event that CEF no longer has funds available, the application will not be approved regardless of whether the applicant fulfils the eligibility requirements for claiming reimbursement from the CEF. 

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6. When does CEF start receiving applications?
¡ÐApplications open from 1 June 2002.

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7. Does an applicant have to pay any application fees?
¡ÐThe CEF scheme does not involve any application fees.

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8. When should the applicants submit their Application Form (SFAA 192)?
¡ÐApplicants should submit their applications before the commencement date of the course for which reimbursement of fees is to be made.

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9. Why are the applicants required to enroll in the course before applying to the CEF ?

¡ÐThe aim of requiring applicants to enroll in the course before submitting application to CEF is to ensure that they are willing and committed to complete the course(s) concerned.

Given the limited resources available, in order to ensure that the CEF is used in a meaningful manner, we need to set appropriate parameters on eligibility criteria and these criteria have been approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council.

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10. What are the other documents the applicant should attach in submitting his/her Application Form (SFAA 192)?
¡ÐThe applicant should attach a photocopy of his/her HK Smart ID Card and if applicable one-way permit in submitting his/her application form.

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IV. Notification of Application Results

1. How long does it take before an applicant receives the result of his/her application?
¡ÐFor applications containing complete information and the required copies of supporting documents, application results will be issued within 12 working days from the date of receipt of applications. If the information provided is incomplete or there are discrepancies in the information provided, applicants will be requested to give an explanation or provide supplementary information, in which case the processing time will be longer.

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2. If an applicant has obtained in-principle approval from OCEF, but has lost the approval letter, what should he/she do?
¡ÐThe applicant should contact OCEF at Room 916, 9/F, Kwai Hing Government Offices, 166-174 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Chung, N.T. or call up Hotline 3142 2277, handled by the staff of ¡§1823 Call Centre¡¨, to follow up as soon as possible.

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3.  If an applicant has not received any reply 4 weeks after submitting his/her application, what should he/she do?
¡ÐIf applicant does not receive any written reply from OCEF 4 weeks from the date of submission. The applicant should contact OCEF at Room 916, 9/F, Kwai Hing Government Offices, 166-174 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Chung, N.T. or call up Hotline 3142 2277, handled by the staff of ¡§1823 Call Centre¡¨,  to follow up as soon as possible.

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V. Level of Financial Assistance

1. What is the maximum level of financial assistance under CEF? How is it calculated?
¡ÐEligible applicants will be reimbursed 80% of their fees or subject to a maximum sum of HK$10,000, whichever is the less.

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2. If an applicant who has completed the reimbursable courses has emigrated overseas, will he/she receive the financial assistance?
¡ÐThe applicant can make a claim by submitting the Reimbursement Claim Form (SFAA 193) if he/she has successfully completed the courses within four years from the date in-principle approval was given, provided that he/she can meet all other criteria. He/She studying language courses may also reimburse benchmark examination fee provided that he/she must accompany with a completed filled Reimbursement Claim Form for Benchmark Test / Examination Fees (SFAA 205) and related documents to the relevant language course. 

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3. If an applicant has concurrently been enrolled in a number of reimbursable courses, can he/she apply for reimbursement in respect of some of the completed courses?

¡ÐAn applicant will be allowed four opportunities to claim reimbursement within four years from the date in-principle approval was given, subject to 80% of the fees or maximum sum of HK$10,000, whichever is the less.

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VI. Course Information

1. Are all courses eligible for financial assistance?
¡ÐOnly continuing education and training courses approved by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare are eligible for financial assistance.

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2. Why are there only a few designated sectors covered by the CEF ?

¡ÐAs funding is limited, in order to enhance Hong Kong's overall competitiveness, we need to set appropriate parameters such as the coverage of the courses for the CEF. After consulting prominent academics, business figures, employers and various Focus Groups, it was concluded that priority should be given to Financial Services, Business Services, Logistics, Tourism, Design, Languages, Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Skills for the Workplace, Creative Industries and Specification of Competency Standards. 

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3. Why computer / IT are not included in the reimbursable course list ?
¡ÐDuring the consultation, it was widely accepted that the labour force of Hong Kong has already got basic knowledge and competency on computer / IT. Furthermore, reimbursable courses belonging to the nine designated professions are not limited to the professional skills. In fact, courses related to computer / IT application in the nine designated professions are also included in the reimbursable course list. For details of the reimbursable course list, please visit our website: http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/cef .

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4. Where can an applicant get information on the reimbursable courses?
5. How can an applicant tell if the course he/she enrols in is a reimbursable course?

¡ÐReimbursable course list will be updated on a monthly basis. Information on the reimbursable courses can be obtained from the Office of the Continuing Education Fund and registered course providers, and on our website ( http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/cef ). Moreover, course information can be obtained by fax through hotline 3142 2277 (Handled by the staff of ¡§1823 Call Centre¡¨).

Applicants should check with the course providers concerned the course details, such as the enrollment date, entry requirements, course commencement date, course fees, assessment method etc.

Website and telephone enquiry number of course providers can be found on our website ( http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/cef ) under "Course Information" of "Reimbursable Course List".

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6. Where can the institution codes and course codes of the reimbursable courses be obtained?
¡ÐInformation on the institution codes and course codes of the reimbursable courses can be obtained from the Office of the Continuing Education Fund and registered course providers, and on our website ( http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/cef ). Moreover, course information can be obtained by fax through hotline 3142 2277 (Handled by the staff of ¡§1823 Call Centre¡¨).

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7. Why are the course codes under CEF different from those of the course providers ?
¡ÐAs the reimbursable course list includes courses offered by many course providers and the number of courses will increase continuously, it is necessary for the Office of the Continuing Education Fund to have a consistent set of course code, so as to facilitate application processing and future handling of reimbursement.

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8. Why is a course offered by a certain course provider included in the reimbursable course list, while a similar or same course offered by another course provider is not ?

¡ÐCourse providers are required to submit their applications for assessment of the courses to the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) before their courses can be included in the Reimbursable Course List under CEF. In fact, all reimbursable courses posted on our website have passed the assessment of HKCAAVQ.

Therefore, a course not included in our reimbursable course list may be due to the fact that the course provider concerned has not yet submitted their application for assessment to HKCAAVQ or the assessment is under processing. Please contact the course provider to enquire if it would seek registration of the course under CEF and visit our website to get the latest course information ( http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/cef ).

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VII. Change of Information/Amendment of Personal Data

1. If an applicant needs to change the information on his/her personal particulars, how can he/she inform OCEF?
2. If an applicant wishes to correct the information he/she has supplied earlier, how can he/she make the amendment?
3. If an applicant has cancelled his/her bank account previously supplied to OCEF, what should he/she do?
¡ÐThe applicant should complete the Form "Notification of Change of Personal Data" (SFAA 196) and send it back to OCEF. The form can be obtained from OCEF (Room 916, 9/F, Kwai Hing Government Offices, 166-174 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Chung, N.T.) or downloaded from our website ( http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/cef ). Moreover, it can be obtained by fax through hotline 3142 2277 (Handled by the staff of ¡§1823 Call Centre¡¨).

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4. Can an applicant switch to other courses after obtaining in-principle approval?
¡ÐThe applicant can switch to other reimbursable courses after in-principle has been given to him/her. He/She need not make a fresh application. On successful completion of the course, he/she can apply reimbursement of the fees concerned. However, his/her reimbursement deadline and the maximum sum of HK$10,000 remains.

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VIII. Cancellation/Withdrawal of Applications

1. What should an applicant do if he/she wishes to cancel/withdraw his/her application?
¡ÐThe applicant should inform OCEF in writing as soon as possible.

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2. If an applicant has withdrawn his/her previous application, can he/she make further applications?
¡ÐApplicants who withdraw their applications on their own accord may not submit further applications.

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IX. Reimbursement of Funds

1. When can the applicants apply for reimbursement of the fees?
¡ÐApplicants should have paid for the course fees before they apply to the CEF for in-principle approval for assistance. They can submit claims for reimbursement upon successful completion of the course(s). The amount of subsidy is 80% of the fees or subject to a maximum sum of HK$10,000, whichever is the less.

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2. How to apply for reimbursement of fees?
¡ÐSuccessful applicants will be provided with a Reimbursement Claim Form (SFAA 193) when in-principle approval is given. Claimants should submit the completed Reimbursement Claim Form with copies of documents (fee receipts, documentary proof that they have successfully completed the courses and the front page of their bank passbook/statement) by post to the OCEF or place the Reimbursement Claim Form and copies of supporting documents into the CEF drop-in box on 12/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices.

Claimants studying language courses (except written Chinese courses) are additionally required to provide a completed Reimbursement Claim Form for Benchmark Test / Examination Fees (SFAA 205) with copies of documentary proof of passing the specified benchmark tests/examinations at the specified (or higher) level and copies of benchmark tests/examinations fee receipts. (All submitted documents are not returnable).

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3. What is the definition of "successful completion" of the course ?
¡Ð"Successful completion" of the course means that the claimant must have attended no less than 70% of the contactable hours of the course or such higher attendance requirement as prescribed for the course (whichever is higher) and attained the overall mark of either 50% or such higher percentage of assessment(s) as prescribed for the course (whichever is higher) as assessed by whichever method approved by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare (including any examination and assignment requirements with approved weighting).

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4. What is documentary proof of successful completion of the course?
¡ÐDocumentary proof of successful completion of the course may include a certificate of award, a letter or a transcript from the course provider certifying that the claimant has successfully completed the relevant course assessments.

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5. If the applicant makes reimbursement claim for a course co-organized by a local agent with a third party, say an overseas university, what kind of documentary proof of successful completion of the course he/she is required to submit ?
¡@ ¡ÐApplicants must submit the proof of successful completion of course or a certification letter issued by the local agent.

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6. How to get the reimbursement?
¡ÐReimbursement will be made by direct credit to the saving/current account nominated by the claimant for receipt of the reimbursement. The name of the claimant on the account must be exactly the same as the name on the HK Smart ID Card. Credit card accounts, fixed deposit accounts and foreign currency deposit accounts are not acceptable accounts for direct credit of the reimbursement.

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7. Can an applicant on special grounds receive subsidy in advance?
¡ÐApplicants can only submit claims for reimbursement upon successful completion of the courses, and in any event, within four years from the date in-principle approval was given.

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8. If the applicant has submitted the Reimbursement Claim Form, when can he/she receive the subsidy?
¡ÐIn general, payment will be made within six weeks from the date of receipt of the Reimbursement Claim Form, subject to complete and  satisfactory supporting documents being provided. In case the CEF reimbursement has to be made to offset the NLS loans, the payment processing time will be longer as well.

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9. Can the bank account provided by the claimant be a joint account, a credit card account, a time deposit account or a foreign currency account?
¡ÐThe claimant's bank account must be a Hong Kong Dollar saving/current/bank-in-one account opened under any banks of Hong Kong. The name of account holder must be the same as the name on the HK Smart ID card.

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10. What should an applicant do if he/she has lost the Reimbursement Claim Form (SFAA 193) or
Reimbursement Claim Form for Benchmark Test / Examination Fees (SFAA 205)?
¡ÐThe applicant should inform OCEF in person, by post or through enquiry hotline 3142 2277, handled by the staff of ¡§1823 Call Centre¡¨, as soon as possible and get a replacement form from OCEF.

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11. If a claimant has submitted the reimbursement claim with sufficient supporting documents, but has not received any payment notification, what should he/she do?
¡ÐIf the claimant does not receive any payment notification six weeks from the date that he/she has submitted the claim, he/she should contact OCEF at Hotline 3142 2277, handled by the staff of ¡§1823 Call Centre¡¨, as soon as possible.

12. How to get a replacement Reimbursement Claim Form (SFAA 193) or Reimbursement Claim Form for Benchmark Test / Examination Fees (SFAA 205)?
¡ÐThe Reimbursement Claim Form (SFAA193) and the Reimbursement Claim Form for Benchmark Test / Examination Fees (SFAA 205) are controlled forms and the forms are sent to all successful applicants together with Approval in-principle Letter. These forms are not available for downloading. Applicants who have lost their RCFs should write to the Office of the Continuing Education Fund or to the email address cef@sfaa.gov.hk and request for a replacement copy. Please provide your full name and the Hong Kong Smart Identity Card Number / CEF application number so that we can retrieve your application record. We will send the replacement forms to you by post.

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X. Benchmark Tests / Examinations

1. What are the additional requirements for CEF applicants studying language courses ?

¡ÐApplicants studying language courses (except written Chinese courses) are additionally required to pass the specified benchmark tests / examinations at the specified (or higher) level within the four-year validity period. Benchmark tests should be taken after the course has commenced and before the expiry of the validity period. With effect from 1 September 2009, CEF claimants can make use of the same benchmark examination to support the claim for more than one language course. However, the examination date of the benchmark examination must fall after the course commencement date of the reimbursable course used for claiming CEF. Information on the specified benchmark tests and levels of the language courses can be obtained from the Reimbursable Course List in CEF website. Benchmark Test / Examination fees may also be reimbursed if accompanied with a claim for the relevant language (except written Chinese) course.

For reimbursement of fees, the claimant is required to submit the completed and signed  Reimbursement Claim Form (SFAA 193) and the Reimbursement Claim Form for Benchmark Test/Examination Fees (SFAA 205) together with copies of the supporting documents.

Applicants studying Chinese (e.g. Chinese writing skills) are not required to take benchmark tests.

Full details are given in the Guidelines on the Reimbursement Procedures for the Continuing Education Fund (SFAA 204) which is attached with the approval in-principle letter.

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2. Which benchmark examination should be taken by the applicant ?
¡ÐInstitutions / course providers have pegged the specified benchmark examination(s) that the applicants should take based on the course level and content (please refer to the ¡§Benchmark Examination¡¨and ¡§Remark¡¨columns in the reimbursable course list). Applicants are eligible to make reimbursement claim in respect of the course fee and benchmark examination fee after successful completion of course and passing the specified examination at the specified (or higher) level.

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3. Where can applicants obtain information of benchmark tests / examinations ?
¡ÐGeneral information of the benchmark tests / examinations (such as the types of benchmark tests / examinations) can be obtained from the CEF website :  http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/cef under "Language Benchmark Tests / Examinations". Applicants should contact the institutions / course providers concerned for more detailed information.

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4. What should be submitted by a claimant to substantiate his/her claim for reimbursement of fees for language courses (except written Chinese courses) ?

¡ÐApart from the completed and signed Reimbursement Claim Form (SFAA 193), copy(ies) of course fee receipt(s), copy(ies) of documentary proof of successful completion of the course(s) and copy(ies) of the front page of the bank passbook or statement showing the name and account number, claimants studying language courses (except written Chinese courses) should also submit the following :

  • completed and signed Reimbursement Claim Form for Benchmark Test / Examination Fees (SFAA 205) ; 
  • copy(ies) of documentary proof of passing the specified benchmark test(s) / examination(s) at the specified (or higher) level;
  • copy(ies) of benchmark test(s) / examinations fee receipt(s).

All these documents must be submitted before the expiry of the four-year validity period stated in the letter of approval-in-principle for CEF.

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5. Under what circumstances the benchmark test / examination fees cannot be reimbursed ?
¡ÐIf the benchmark test / examination fees have been reimbursed under other publicly-funded financial assistance scheme, this benchmark test / examination fees cannot be reimbursed under CEF again.

The Reimbursement Claim Form for Benchmark Test / Examination Fees (SFAA 205) has not been completely filled in and /or signed by the claimant.

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6. Is the entry-test fee in connection with a language course (except written Chinese) reimbursable ?
¡ÐUnder CEF, reimbursable expenses do not include entry-test fee. Only payment made for tuition fees of reimbursable courses and examination fees for attending designated benchmark examinations in respect of language courses (except written Chinese courses) are reimbursable expenses.

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7. Can a claimant only claim the benchmark test / examination fees ?
¡ÐA claim for reimbursement of the benchmark test / examination fees will only be entertained if it is accompanied with a claim for the relevant language course (except written Chinese course).

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8. If an applicant has already passed or attained the minimum benchmark of the specified benchmark test / examination before the commencement of the course, can he/she be exempted from taking the same test / examination again ?
¡ÐUnder CEF, benchmark test / examination should be taken after the commencement of the course and before the expiry of the four-year validity period stated in the letter of approval-in-principle for CEF. The purpose is to ascertain that applicants who receive subsidy from CEF do attain certain level of language proficiency after taking a reimbursable course. Thus, an applicant cannot make use of the benchmark test / examination result that he/she obtained before the commencement of the course to substantiate his/her claim for reimbursement under CEF.

As benchmark tests / examinations are held at fixed interval, claimants should check on the examination dates and details of relevant benchmark tests / examinations with the examination bodies/agents and plan their study schedule.

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9. If an applicant has passed the internal examination organized by the institution / course provider but fails in the benchmark test / examination, can he/she claim for reimbursement ?

¡ÐApplicants can only make a claim for reimbursement upon passing the specified benchmark tests / examinations at the specified (or higher) level. A claim for course fees of a language course will not be entertained if it is not accompanied with copies of documentary proof of passing the specified benchmark tests / examinations at the specified (or higher) level.

In short, in order to make a successful claim, applicants must make sure that they can pass the specified benchmark tests / examinations at the specified (or higher) level after the commencement of the course and before the expiry of the four-year validity period stated in the letter of approval-in-principle for CEF.

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10. If the applicant has failed in the benchmark test / examination for a number of times, can he/she claim for reimbursement of all the test / examination fees ?
¡ÐNo. Only the benchmark test / examination fees contributing to pass the specified benchmark tests / examinations at the specified (or higher) level can be reimbursed.

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11. If an applicant takes more than one language courses and the courses are pegged to the same benchmark test / examination, can he/she take the test / examination once only?
¡ÐWith effect from 1 September 2009, CEF claimants can make use of the same benchmark examination to support the claim for more than one language course. However, the examination date of the benchmark examination must fall after the course commencement date of the reimbursable course used for claiming CEF. Other conditions under the prevailing reimbursement requirements, including the requirement of passing a specified benchmark test at the specified or higher level and only one claim for reimbursement of the examination fee for each benchmark examination, etc remain unchanged.

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12. For applicants taking English courses, do they need to attain the English level relevant to their respective job types ?
¡ÐCEF does not require applicants to declare their job types nor request them to attain the minimum benchmark of their job types. Under CEF, applicants taking English courses are required to pass the specified benchmark examination at the specified (or higher) level.

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XI. Others

1. Is there any requirement for the successful claimant to stay/work in Hong Kong?
¡ÐThere is no such requirement.

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2. How to contact the Office of the Continuing Education Fund?

¡ÐEnquiries should be addressed to

  • Office of the Continuing Education Fund, Room 916, 9/F, Kwai Hing Government Offices, 166-174 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Chung, N.T.
  • Hotline : 3142 2277 (Handled by the staff of ¡§1823 Call Centre¡¨)
  • Website : http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/cef 

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3. What are the office hours of OCEF?
¡ÐThe office hours of OCEF are:
Mondays to Fridays : 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
¡@ (Office is closed during lunch hour from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
Saturdays, Sundays
and Public Holidays :
Closed

4. What is the website of the Continuing Education Fund?
¡Ð http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/cef

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5. What are the services offered by the hotline centre?

¡ÐTo answer general enquiries about the CEF, including the eligibility criteria, application and reimbursement procedures and to fax the Guidance Notes for Application (SFAA 191), Application Form (SFAA 192), Notification of Change of Personal Data (SFAA 196) and the reimbursable course list to enquirers on request. 

The hotline 3142 2277, handled by the staff of ¡§1823 Call Centre¡¨, is running 24-hour round the clock. Staff of ¡§1823 Call Centre¡¨will answer your call on a first-come-first-served basis. Information on the CEF can also be obtained on our website : http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/cef.

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