29th May 2023 – (Hong Kong) The Hong Kong government has announced details for the second round of its consumption voucher scheme, which aims to stimulate the local economy. The second round will provide an additional HK$2,000 to eligible citizens, with the first round of HK$3,000 having been distributed in April. The deadline for eligibility has been set for 29th May, meaning citizens who have turned 18 years old or above on or before this day will be eligible to receive the vouchers.
Ricky Chong, Principal AS for Financial Services & the Treasury has stated that the distribution criteria for the consumption voucher scheme this year are similar to those of last year. Eligible citizens must be aged 18 or above, permanent residents or new arrivals in Hong Kong, and not have the intention of permanent departure.
The government will use 29th May as a reference date to determine whether someone has permanently left Hong Kong based on the following criteria:
- Not having been in Hong Kong for the past 36 months
- Having applied for and received an early withdrawal of their Mandatory Provident Fund due to permanent departure before the age of 65
- Whether their Hong Kong ID card was issued locally or overseas
- Other factors indicating that they are unlikely to return to Hong Kong in the future
Financial Secretary Paul Chan has announced that permanent residents and new arrivals in Hong Kong will receive HK$2,000 in the second round of the scheme, while eligible persons entering Hong Kong for study or under different admission schemes, such as the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, will receive HK$1,000.
The second round of vouchers is scheduled to be distributed on 16th July. Those who received vouchers last year and are eligible for the second round do not need to take any action to receive them. However, those who wish to change their payment method can do so between 5th and 27th June. Eligible citizens who become qualified on May 29th can register for the scheme between 5th and 27th June.
Octopus card users must first use up the first round of vouchers before receiving the second round, which will be distributed on 16th July.
The six accepted payment platforms for the scheme are AlipayHK, BoC Pay, Octopus, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go, and WeChat Pay HK. Citizens can only use the same payment platform they chose for the first round in the second round, unless they apply to change their payment method during the designated period.
The Hong Kong government will continue to distribute consumption vouchers to eligible citizens and new arrivals, but the amount has been reduced to HKD 5,000, with the first instalment of HK$3,000 having been distributed on April 16th. The second instalment of HK$2,000 will be distributed on 16th July. Eligible persons entering Hong Kong for study or under different admission schemes will receive half the amount in two instalments, i.e. HK$2,500.
Existing registrants were issued with the first instalment voucher on April 16 this year, and the second instalment vouchers will be disbursed to them from 16th July. The value of the vouchers is HK$2,000 for Hong Kong permanent residents and new arrivals, while eligible individuals who have come to live in Hong Kong through different admission schemes or to study in Hong Kong will be disbursed with vouchers of half value, i.e., $1,000.
Existing registrants can change the stored value facility account for receiving the second instalment vouchers. Those who do not want to change their stored value facility account and other existing registration records are not required to go through any procedure. The government will use their existing registration records to conduct eligibility checking and notify them of the result through SMS notification in early July.
New eligible persons and eligible persons who have not registered before will be disbursed with two separate vouchers starting from July 16 and 16th October this year after they have registered. Eligible Hong Kong permanent residents and new arrivals will be disbursed with a total value of $5,000 in vouchers, while eligible individuals who have come to live in Hong Kong through different admission schemes or to study in Hong Kong will be disbursed with vouchers of half value,i.e., HK$2,500.
New registrants and those existing registrants who want to change their stored value facility account or other registration records can complete the relevant procedures through the electronic registration portal on the Scheme website (www.consumptionvoucher.gov.hk) or in person at any of the temporary service centres during the registration period from 5th to 27th June. They will receive the relevant results through SMS notifications after about one to two weeks.
The government has emphasised that the arrangement for collecting vouchers through different stored value facilities and the coverage of consumption vouchers are the same as the first instalment.
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said that the disbursement of the second instalment vouchers will inject about HK$13 billion of purchasing power into the market. He believes that it will accelerate the economic recovery and create a positive impact on the retail and catering sectors. The government hopes that the disbursement of the consumption vouchers, along with the “Happy Hong Kong” campaign and the spending season in the summer holidays, will encourage people to spend happily and boost the economy together.