Hong Kong’s Octopus is hottest platform for HK$5,000 e-vouchers, users spend big on groceries, care products and cosmetics
- Authorities reveal 70 per cent of 6.3 million qualified residents chose the operator of city’s ubiquitous stored-value cards to receive credit in tranches
- Octopus is among four service providers under HK$36 billion consumption voucher scheme aimed at boosting economy
Most Hongkongers have chosen the Octopus digital payment platform to store their HK$5,000 consumption vouchers from the government, with spending centred on groceries, personal care products and cosmetics.
On Wednesday, officials revealed for the first time that 70 per cent of 6.3 million qualified residents chose Octopus for the e-vouchers, while 20 per cent opted for AlipayHK, with other users spread between Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK.
The four platforms were the mandated payment service providers for the government’s HK$36 billion consumption voucher scheme, aimed at boosting the local economy amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Following the first instalment worth HK$2,000 on August 1 across all the platforms, Octopus users will receive the second batch, also of the same amount, on Friday or National Day, while recipients on AlipayHK, Tap & Go, and WeChat Pay HK will see their accounts topped up with HK$3,000.
Octopus users will receive their remaining HK$1,000 credit in December.