Extended Non-means-tested Loan Scheme (ENLS)

Considering the need and repayment ability

• Students should consider carefully about their need and repayment ability before applying for loans.

• Late repayment could lead to serious consequences. Repay punctually and be socially responsible.

• Seek help from the Student Finance Office (SFO) immediately if loan borrowers encounter financial difficulties in repayment.

Providing true and complete information

• Applicants must complete the application documents FULLY and TRUTHFULLY. Any misrepresentation or omission may lead to disqualification from application and/or full recovery of loan(s) already paid, and court proceedings. #

  • It is an offence to obtain property or pecuniary advantage by deception. Any person who does so commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction upon indictment to imprisonment for ten years under the Theft Ordinance (Chapter 210 of the Laws of Hong Kong).
  • If any person being required or authorised by law to make any statement on oath for any purpose and being lawfully sworn (otherwise than in a judicial proceeding) wilfully makes a statement which is material for that purpose and which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true, he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction upon indictment to imprisonment for seven years and to a fine under the Crimes Ordinance (Chapter 200 of the Laws of Hong Kong).

• Applicants should notify the SFO in writing immediately if there are any changes of their status / personal particulars / study information or status of their indemnifiers.

Notifying change of status of applicants

• Applicants are obliged to notify the SFO in writing immediately if: #

  • a bankruptcy petition is filed by applicants or presented against them or a bankruptcy order is made against them;
  • applicants have applied/are applying for an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA);
  • legal proceedings have been commenced (or are pending or being threatened) against applicants or any of their assets or for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer over any or all of applicant's assets; or
  • applicants intend to leave Hong Kong for a period longer than three months or emigrate. Upon receipt of such notification, unless the SFO has otherwise come to an agreement with applicants concerning the repayment arrangement or unless the SFO is satisfied that applicants shall be able to continue to repay the loan based on the original repayment schedule, the SFO could demand applicant's immediate repayment of all outstanding balance of the ENLS loan, interest, overdue interest (if any), administrative fee (if any) and any recovery expenses.

Notifying change of study information for applicants

• Under the following circumstances, applicants must immediately notify the SFO in writing for SFO’s follow-up action, including but not limited to withholding the payment of the ENLS loan if: #

  • applicants decide to withdraw from/cease/suspend/defer their study;
  • applicants transfer to another programme/institution;
  • applicants cannot complete their programme(s)/course(s) of study for whatever reason(s);
  • the applicants’ institution fails to provide the course(s) under their application to them for whatever reason(s); or
  • applicants are no longer the eligible student of the programme/institution concerned for whatever reason(s).

• Once the loans have been drawn down, should there be any changes in the applicants’ study status (such as change in expected graduation date, withdrawal of study, continuing study after completion of the programme which has been granted the loans, etc.), applicants should immediately notify the SFO by submitting the duly completed ‘Notification of Change of Study Status’ [SFO302_E] form, which is available at the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (WFSFAA) webpage. Timely provision of updated information is important as it may affect the activation date of the loan repayment and interest to be incurred.

Notifying change of personal particulars of applicants

• Before the full settlement of the loans, should there be changes in applicant's name, residential address or correspondence address, residential/ mobile phone number, e-mail address or other contact phone number that will affect the loan application/ disbursements/ repayments, applicants should immediately notify the SFO by submitting the duly completed ‘Notification of Change of Applicant’s Personal Particulars’ [ENLS124] form, which is available at the WFSFAA webpage.

Notifying change of status of indemnifiers

• After the indemnifier signs the ‘Deed of Indemnity’, applicants should notify the SFO in writing immediately if there are changes in the financial / legal status, residential status or contact information of the indemnifier.

• Applicants should notify the SFO immediately in writing if: #

  • the indemnifier becomes incapable of fulfilling the obligations under the ‘Deed of Indemnity’;
  • the indemnifier is deceased;
  • the applicant is aware that a bankruptcy petition is filed by or presented against the indemnifier or a bankruptcy order is made against him/her;
  • the indemnifier applies for an IVA;
  • the applicant is aware that a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer has been appointed over any or all of the indemnifier’s assets;
  • the indemnifier is involved in any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings (whether inside or outside Hong Kong);
  • there is any claim (whether inside or outside Hong Kong) against the indemnifier or any of his/her assets;
  • the indemnifier intends to leave or has already left Hong Kong for a period longer than three months or to emigrate or has already emigrated.

  Under these circumstances, applicants are required to procure immediately or otherwise upon the first repayment notification of the SFO, an alternative indemnifier located in Hong Kong and acceptable to the Government to execute the indemnity in favour of the Government in light of the occurrence of any of the above circumstances, failing which the SFO has the power to demand the applicant’s immediate repayment of all outstanding balance of the loan, interest, overdue interest (if any), administrative fee (if any) and any recovery expenses.

According to the “Deed of Indemnity” signed by the indemnifier, the indemnifier agrees to be liable to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Government) for the whole amount of the loan undertaken by the loan borrower, all interests and other related costs and expenses payable by the loan borrower. If the loan borrower fails to repay the amount due for repayment, the indemnifier will immediately pay to the Government as a principal debtor on demand from the Government. The indemnifier is not allowed to terminate the “Deed of Indemnity” until the loan, interests and related costs and expenses have been fully repaid.

The indemnifier is required to notify the SFO in writing immediately whenever there are any changes in his/ her financial or legal status, or when he/ she intends to leave/ has left Hong Kong for a period longer than three months or to emigrate. #

The indemnifier is also required to notify the SFO in writing immediately if there are any changes to his/ her residential/ correspondence address or his/ her other contact information (including residential/ mobile phone number, email address, etc.). The indemnifier is required to duly complete the “Notification of Change of Indemnifier’s Personal Particulars” (ENLS/IDM/INFO/E) and return it to the SFO.