Editorial | Expensive lesson to learn in Hong Kong consumption voucher row

  • There needs to be clearer criteria to determine ineligibility so that those in line for electronic consumption coupons will not be arbitrarily disqualified

Residents queue up at the consumption voucher service centre in Mong Kok on Friday after learning they are not eligible for the second tranche of e-coupons. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

The electronic consumption voucher is one of the most well-received pandemic relief measures. Yet it can easily turn into a flashpoint of controversy when not handled well, as reflected in the confusion over the benchmarks used to screen out those who are believed to have emigrated. There needs to be clearer criteria to determine ineligibility so that recipients will not be arbitrarily disqualified.

With as many as a quarter of a million people initially ruled ineligible for the HK$5,000 handout, the outcry is understandable and must be carefully addressed by the authorities. Originally, some 6.3 million residents were expected to benefit, plus 300,000 people who are mainly entrepreneurs, those with talents and students under special admission schemes. At the same time, the government heeded calls to reject those with plans to migrate when the second tranche of the HK$10,000 per head voucher is released on August 7.

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