Hongkongers ‘set to receive second batch of HK$5,000 consumption vouchers in July’
- Source says authorities planning to launch registration for second batch of consumption vouchers in mid-June
- Government in discussion with payment platforms about splitting e-vouchers into two instalments of HK$3,000 and HK$2,000, insider adds
Hongkongers can expect to receive the second batch of HK$5,000 (US$638) consumption vouchers in July, with the handout potentially being split into two instalments, the Post has learned.
A source familiar with the situation said authorities were planning to launch registration for the second phase of the HK$66.4 billion scheme in mid-June, with two more e-payment platforms, Bank of China’s BOC Pay and HSBC’s PayMe, set to join four others in disbursing the funds.
The four other platforms already involved in the initiative are AlipayHK, Octopus, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK to store the amount. Alipay is operated by Ant Group, an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, which owns the South China Morning Post.
The source said the second batch of e-vouchers, worth HK$5,000, would be disbursed as early as July after eligible recipients had reapplied. The insider added that authorities were still discussing with designated platform operators the possibility of splitting the handout into two instalments of HK$3,000 and HK$2,000.
“The digital vouchers will be distributed no later than August 1, most likely on July 18. But there might be a chance that the disbursement will be made in two instalments,” the source said.
Any residents, including newly eligible recipients, who did not sign up for the previous scheme, can wait until registration for the second batch of e-vouchers to apply for their HK$10,000 handout.
