The SAO Funding Playbook
Planning an OCamp? ExperiencesHK is here to help your society unlock up to HK$28,000 in funding—without the admin headaches.
We Know the Struggle 🤝
Managing a student society is hard work, and dealing with funding applications shouldn’t drain the fun out of planning. We’ve studied the PolyU SAO guidelines inside and out. Here is your ultimate cheat code to securing max funding, dodging out-of-pocket costs, and hosting an epic event at Camptopia.
Unlock the 3 SAO Tiers
Structure your Activity Form like this to hit the maximum limit:
Tier 1: Base Funding
Standard funding for regular society activities.
Tier 2: Open Enrollment
Unlock an extra $6K simply by making your event open to freshmen or the public!
Tier 3: Signature Event
Check the “Annual Signature Event” box on your SAO form to unlock the final $8K.
Zero Out-of-Pocket Venue Fees
You don’t have to drain your ExCo’s personal bank accounts to secure a venue. The SAO Activity Form features a life-saving “Special Request for SOF Advance Payment”.
We will provide you with an official quotation early. Submit this with your form, and the SAO will pay the heavy venue costs upfront before your camp even starts.
Beat the HK$15k Quote Rule
The SAO Rule: If any single expense item from one supplier exceeds HK$15,000, you are strictly required to do the extra work of finding a second competitor quotation.
We completely eliminate this paperwork nightmare. We expertly structure your packages—splitting the venue, meals, and transport into separate, clearly categorized invoices. Because no single invoice hits HK$15,000, you skip the competitor quotes!
⚠️ Keep Your App Safe (Red Flags)
To guarantee your reimbursement gets approved, strictly follow these rules:
The SAO will NOT fund working meals for ExCo or crew. We ensure all our catering invoices are labelled purely as “Boxed Meals for Activity Participants”.
SAO does not fund overnight residential camps. Always refer to your Camptopia event on official paperwork as an “Orientation Day Camp” or “Campfire Gathering”.
If you hire our professional DJ or Campfire Instructors, ensure you check “Yes” to involving paid trainers and accurately fill out Section 5 of your form.
⏰ Deadlines You Can’t Miss
- The Application: Submit your Activity Form + Camptopia Quotations strictly at least 20 working days before your event. Don’t wait until the last minute!
- The Reimbursement: Submit your Activity Report, Fee Collection Record, and original receipts (glued to A4 paper) strictly within 30 days after the event ends.
Ready to Build Your OCamp?
Let our team handle the venue logistics so you can focus on the freshmen. Lock in your dates and get your SAO-ready quotes today!