Residents flock to restaurants and malls in Hong Kong as government hands out latest tranche of consumption vouchers
- At apm shopping mall in Kwun Tong, one resident says she is planning to spend HK$100,000 on luxury items
- Ray Chui, chairman of catering group the Institute of Dining Art, says industry enjoying a more than 10 per cent bump in business.
Hong Kong residents flocked to restaurants and shopping centres on Saturday to spend the latest instalment of digital consumption vouchers from the government, with retailers and eateries expecting double-digit growth in business.
Consumers were seen snapping up items such as jewellery, smartphones and electrical appliances, with malls drawing big crowds of spenders, while restaurants were packed with residents enjoying meals with family and friends.
People who chose to receive the handout through e-payment provider Octopus received HK$2,000 (US$255) on Saturday, and the remaining HK$1,000 will be handed out between December 16 and April. Those who used any of the other five service providers received HK$3,000 on Saturday.
At the apm shopping mall in Kwun Tong, business was booming at a branch of jewellery chain Chow Tai Fook. Jessica Chan, a 38-year-old housewife, was planning to spend about HK$100,000 on luxury items.
“I plan to buy watches and jewellery with my consumption vouchers,” she said. “I predict that I will spend about HK$100,000.”
Chan said she would not use the vouchers for travelling, as it would be difficult to head overseas right now because she had to care for her children.
Assistant branch manager Danny Tsai said the low price of gold was proving alluring for some customers.