Second instalment consumption voucher payments begin

Hong Kong residents, who were among the first batch to register electronically, received their second instalment of consumption vouchers on Friday.

The government announced the HK$36 billion scheme in last February’s budget as a way to boost the pandemic-hit economy. The first HK$2,000 instalment was paid out from August 1.

Anyone who registered electronically between July 4 and July 17 will receive HK$3,000, provided they opted to use either the AliPay, Tap and Go, or WeChat e-wallet. Those who opted to use an Octopus card, or app, will get HK$2,000 dollars, with the HK$1,000 balance coming in mid-December at the earliest – subject to spending requirements.

E-wallet users will receive the vouchers automatically, while Octopus Card users can get the vouchers by tapping on at service points at MTR stations, convenience stores – or by using the Octopus app.

On Thursday, a government spokesman attributed the 11.9 percent rise in August retail sales to the voucher scheme.

People who registered electronically after July 17, or by using a paper form, will get their second instalment on November 1.