The Enhanced Bought Place Scheme (EBPS, 改善買位計劃) is one of the ways Hong Kong's government increases the supply of subsidised residential care places. Rather than building new homes, the Social Welfare Department buys places in existing private Care & Attention homes and allocates them to subsidised applicants from the Central Waiting List. The result is more subsidised places, in private-home settings, at subsidised resident fees.
Why private homes participate
A private home joins EBPS because it receives a stable, government-guaranteed payment for the bought places, and because participation brings the home into the SWD's oversight framework (which can be a mark of operational standards). In return, the home must meet EBPS requirements on staffing, space and care standards that exceed the baseline licensing requirements. This means an EBPS place is not simply a private place at a discount — it is a place held to higher operating standards.
EA1 and EA2 place categories
EBPS places are divided into two categories based on the resident's care needs. EA1 places are for elders with higher care needs (closer to nursing-home level), with a resident fee of HK$1,763 per month. EA2 places are for elders with relatively lower care needs, with a resident fee of HK$1,656 per month. Both figures are set centrally by the government and are the same across all participating homes. The category an applicant is allocated depends on the standardised care needs assessment.
| Category | Care needs | Resident fee (monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| EA1 | Higher care needs | HK$1,763 |
| EA2 | Relatively lower care needs | HK$1,656 |
How EBPS differs from an ordinary private place
An EBPS place and a private place can exist in the same building, run by the same operator, but they are different things. The EBPS place is allocated through the Central Waiting List, costs the resident HK$1,656–1,763, and is held to EBPS care standards. A private place at the same home costs the home's published private fee (often HK$10,000–20,000+), is available immediately, and is held to the baseline licensing standard. A family paying privately is not buying an EBPS place — and an EBPS resident is not receiving a discounted private place. They are different products with different funding and different standards.
Eligibility
EBPS places are allocated through the same Central Waiting List as other subsidised places. An applicant must be assessed as needing Care and Attention-level care and be registered on the waiting list. The applicant cannot apply specifically for an EBPS place at a specific home — the placement is determined by SWD based on availability, the applicant's care level, and the applicant's expressed preferences.
Compare EBPS-participating homesFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between EBPS EA1 and EA2?
EBPS EA1 places are for elders with higher care needs and carry a resident fee of HK$1,763 per month. EBPS EA2 places are for elders with relatively lower care needs and carry a resident fee of HK$1,656 per month. The category is determined by the standardised care needs assessment. Both fees are set centrally by the government and are identical across all participating homes.