First batch of HK$5,000 e-vouchers to be distributed in April

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the first batch of electronic consumption vouchers worth HK$5,000 will be distributed next month to around 6.8 million Hongkongers who already registered in last year's scheme. 

The financial chief had earlier announced in the Budget that a new round of HK$10,000 electronic spending coupons will be distributed to all permanent residents and new immigrants to Hong Kong who are aged 18 or above.

Chan said those who applied in the last round of the scheme will not have to register again and they will receive their first installment of HK$5,000 e-vouchers in the same stored-value platform they opted for last year.

The first HK$5,000 will be handed out in April to those who had registered in the last round of the scheme, while the rest will come in mid-2022 and to new applicants.

He said the e-vouchers distributed through Tap & Go, Alipay HK, and WeChat Pay will stay valid for seven months until October 31.

As for those receiving the e-vouchers through the Octopus platform, citizens will first receive HK$4,000 worth of vouchers and will be handed the remaining HK$1,000 between May and October after their cumulative total eligible spending has reached HK$4,000.

Those who need to re-register with respective stored-value platforms can update their records until March 25. Users of AlipayHK, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK should submit their application form and a copy of the identity card by post, while Octopus users can amend their information by post or online.

JoyYou cardholders may call the Octopus hotline 2969-5500 to make the amendment.

Citizens who require in-person assistance can also make reservations with the temporary service centers located at Pioneer Centre in Mong Kok, Tin Ching Amenity and Community Building in Tin Shui Wai and Revenue Tower in Wan Chai via the hotline 185000. The three centers open from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and between 9am and 1pm on Saturday.