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.
Hongkongers likely to get second batch of e-vouchers in summer
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.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po earlier said the second batch of this year’s electronic vouchers would be rolled out during the summer.
The scheme was originally launched last July, with applicants receiving HK$5,000 via their registered e-payment platforms.
In the scheme’s second iteration, which was announced in March, more than 6.3 million eligible residents each received up to HK$5,000 worth of digital coupons in the first batch last month.
Residents who applied to get their first batch of coupons via Octopus received HK$4,000 last month. The remaining HK$1,000 will be disbursed as early as June 16 once the initial amount is spent. Users who signed up via other platforms were given the entire HK$5,000 last month.
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As with last year’s handout, all permanent residents aged 18 and above are eligible for the scheme, as well as new immigrants from mainland China.
The bill for the latest round is estimated to reach HK$66.4 billion and is projected to boost the economy by 1.2 per cent.
The previous iteration of the scheme in 2021 cost the government HK$36 billion and shored up growth by at least 0.7 per cent.
Last year, some 70 per cent of 6.3 million residents who qualified for the scheme chose to use Octopus as their designated e-payment platform, while 20 per cent opted for AlipayHK and the remaining users were spread between Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK.
