Winners . . .
More than a million Hong Kong people living overseas and on the mainland will receive an unexpected budget windfall of HK$6,000, with many saying they will return to the city to claim the money.
Travel agencies said the unexpected giveaway could lead to a rise in ticket bookings and boost tourism in the city. The sudden announcement by Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah to dish out HK$6,000 to every Hong Kong resident aged 18 or above stoked heated discussion on social network sites such as Facebook among the overseas Hong Kong resident community on how to claim the bonus when they return to the city.
It is estimated that millions of Hong Kong residents live overseas, with half a million on the mainland and 200,000 in Australia.
One woman who emigrated to Sydney six years ago with her husband, said they would come back to Hong Kong to claim HK$12,000. 'The amount of HK$6,000 might be offset by the ticket fare, but it's like the government is giving me a free trip back to Hong Kong to visit my friends and relatives,' she said, adding that she felt entitled to the cash.
'We worked and were taxpayers in Hong Kong before. We are entitled to benefit from the overflowing coffers.'
Nancy Lam, who was born in Hong Kong and has lived in Sydney since 1977, welcomed the idea. 'Who wouldn't be happy to get money?' she said.
'I might use it for a holiday or I might buy some furniture at home. I think it's a little odd because I'm not in the country any more.'
Engineer Joey Kwan, who emigrated to California with her family when she was 12, said she would not come back to the city just to get the cash.
'It's cool that the government allows me to keep dual citizenship and gives money to me,' she said. 'But I won't come back just to get money. I don't even have a bank account in Hong Kong now. Dishing out cash like that is strange as it's not a long-term solution to solving problems like poverty.'
Retiree Chang Chi-tsing, 76, who moved to Guangdong 10 years ago, said the government handout was very generous. 'I will come back just to get the cash. I will use to it buy food, wine and cigarettes.'
