Frequently Asked Questions

Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Complete the Application Form

A. Income
B. Assets
C. Family Members
D. Medical Expenses
E. Other Matters

Notification of Results/Payment

Q1. Some of the applicants have already been notified of their result of application. Why have I not received the notification of result yet?

Undertaking/Deed of Indemnity

Q2. What should I do if I did not submit the Undertakings and Deed of Indemnity before the deadline?
Q3. Can a member of the applicant's family act as a witness on the Undertakings and Deed of Indemnity?
Q4. Who can act as an indemnifier?

Change of Personal Particulars

Q5. I have withdrawn from/deferred/suspended my studies, after obtaining financial assistance from the Agency. What should I do?
Q6. I have applied for financial assistance under the Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students, but I have not been informed of the result yet. I will soon need to pay the tuition fee, what should I do?

Request of photocopy of submitted documents

Q7. Could I get back the application form and/or any documents which I have submitted to the Agency? If the answer is yes, what are the procedures to follow and will there be any charges?

Repayment of Grant or Loan of FASP

Q8. What should I do if I have not received or have lost the demand note?
Q9. If tomorrow is the end of the grace period for repayment and I cannot come to your office in person, how can I repay my student loan without a demand note?

Notification of Results/Payment

1 Q: Some of the applicants have already been notified of their result of application. Why have I not received the notification yet?
1 Ans: Applications are received from the various institutions at different times, and this resulted in different time of releasing application results. Secondly, some of the applicants may have to be interviewed, or may be required to provide additional information. The applications from these applicants may take a longer time to process.

Undertaking/Deed of Indemnity

2 Q: What should I do if I did not submit the Undertakings and Deed of Indemnity before the deadline?
2 Ans: You should submit the Undertakings and the related documents to the Agency as soon as possible. Otherwise, the Agency will not credit the grant or loan into your bank account. If you miss the deadline, payment of grant and loan will be deposited into your designated bank account around 6 weeks after we receive all your duly completed documents.
3 Q: Can a member of the applicant's family act as a witness on the Undertakings and Deed of Indemnity?
3 Ans: Applicant's family members, relatives or friends can act as a witness to the Undertakings and the Deed of Indemnity. He/she should be a Hong Kong resident holding a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card and at or over 18 years of age. Please be reminded that neither the applicant nor the indemnifier can act as a witness.
4 Q: Who can act as an indemnifier?
4 Ans: Any person who fulfils the following requirements can be an indemnifier:
  1. a Hong Kong resident holding a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card;
  2. at or over 21 years of age;
  3. gainfully employed in Hong Kong and financially sound (persons without regular income, e.g. housewives, students and casual workers will not be accepted as indemnifiers. If the indemnifier is self-employed, documentary evidence showing that he/she has a regular income such as a copy of his/her latest Tax Demand Note issued by the Inland Revenue Department, or valid Company’s Business Registration Certificate issued by the Companies Registry is required);
  4. able to produce documentary evidence showing his/her current employment status in Hong Kong (e.g. the latest Tax Demand Note issued by the Inland Revenue Department, written certification of the indemnifier’s job title and wages in the last 3 months issued by the employer(s), or a copy of his/her bank passbook/ bank statements showing his/her salary in the last 3 months).
  5. able to produce documentary evidence showing his/her current residential address and office address in Hong Kong; and
  6. able to produce documentary evidence showing his/her financial position upon request by the Controller, Student Financial Assistance Agency.
In addition, a person who (a) is an undischarged bankrupt; or (b) is aware that a bankruptcy petition will be presented against him/her; or (c) has applied/is applying for "Individual Voluntary Arrangement" (IVA); (d) is aware that a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer has been appointed over any or all of his/her assets; or (e) is involved in any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings (whether inside or outside Hong Kong) or is aware that there is any claim (whether inside or outside Hong Kong) in progress or pending or threatened against him/her or any of his/her assets at the time when he/she signs the Deed of Indemnity will not be accepted as an indemnifier.

Change of Personal Particulars

5 Q: I have withdrawn from/deferred/suspended my studies after obtaining financial assistance from the Agency. What should I do?
5 Ans: Please inform the Agency in writing of your withdrawal/deferment/suspension of studies. You should include your name, Hong Kong Identity Card number, the institution you have been studying, and the date of your withdrawal from/deferment/suspension of study.
6 Q: I have applied for financial assistance under the Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students, but I have not been informed of the result yet. I will soon need to pay the tuition fee, what should I do?
6 Ans: Students who have difficulties in settling the tuition fee are advised to approach the institutions concerned. The institutions may allow the students to defer payment of tuition fee until they have received the notification of result from the Agency.

Request of photocopy of submitted documents

7 Q: Could I get back the application form and/or any documents which I have submitted to the Agency? If the answer is yes, what are the procedures to follow and will there be any charges?
7 Ans: According to the Guidance Notes of Application, all the application forms and documents submitted by an applicant are not returnable. However, an applicant could request for a photocopy of the application form and supporting documents previously submitted. Any applicant who wishes to do so should fill in an application form which is available for distribution at:
  1. the reception counter of the Agency at 12/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon; or
  2. any Public Enquiries Counter of the District Offices.
The charges for photocopying is $1.0 per page.
When the application is approved, the Agency will prepare photocopies of the required documents within ten working days, and arrange to inform the applicant the charges by phone or by mail. The applicant has to pay the charges when he collects the document. If the applicant wishes to settle the charges by cheque, the cheque should be crossed and made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region".

Repayment of Grant or Loan of FASP

8 Q: What should I do if I have not received or have lost the demand note?
8 Ans: If you have not received the demand note 7 days prior to the repayment due date or you have lost the demand note, you can apply for a duplicate demand note by either:
  1. coming to the Student Loan Unit (FASP) of this Agency in person; or
  2. contact our staff by phone on 2156 1157 to ask for a duplicate demand note by post.
9 Q: If tomorrow is the end of the grace period for repayment and I cannot come to your office in person, how can I repay my grant or loan without a demand note?
9 Ans: You can refer to the repayment schedule for the amount you are required to repay and write a crossed cheque payable to the "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region". You should indicate on the back of your cheque your name, ID Number and the words "Repayment of FASP Grant or Loan", and then send it to the Treasury, at P.O. Box 28000, Gloucester Road Post Office, Hong Kong by registered mail.