Loan disbursement due in May

Loans for small and medium-sized enterprises from the $500 million pilot Credit Guarantee Scheme should begin in May. Director-General of Trade and Industry Francis Ho Suen-wai said the Provisional Legislature's finance committee had approved the funding, but two problems remained. 'We are in discussions with banks, hoping more will participate [in the scheme] and we hope to reach an agreement with them shortly, clarifying the kinds of liabilities that the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corp and the banks will have to shoulder,' he said.