Dash for cash

than 2 million citizens registered for the HK$10,000 cash handout through e-banking by 5pm on the first day of registration yesterday.

Another 8,000 people who wish to receive payment by check opted for electronic registration through the Hongkong Post website, a government spokesman said.

Despite the government encouraging the public to register for the handout online, many without e-banking accounts rushed to submit printed applications, as 1,000 banks and 120 post offices made special arrangements to open yesterday.

Paper registration, starting yesterday, is available only for people born in 1955 or before. They can submit the forms though Hongkong Post or through banks' drop boxes.

Those born from 1956 to 1970 can submit paper registration forms on or after July 5, while the rest can submit on or after July 19.

Lam, in his 70s, queued at the Mong Kok Hang Seng Bank early yesterday and said the application procedure was easy.

He took an application form earlier this month and submitted it at the bank yesterday.

Lee, a middle-aged man who queued at the bank before it opened at 9am, said: "After getting the HK$10,000 I will save it and use it gradually. I'm not planning to use it for consumption in one go, like what the government has advised."

A Hang Seng spokeswoman said all branches opened from 9am to 5pm to cater to cash handout applications. Staff helped 30 to 40 percent of customers complete the registration through e-banking.

A total of 21 banks - except for CMB Wing Lung Bank and ZA Bank - accepted registration on internet web pages, while 17 banks provided registration services on mobile apps.

The four exceptions are China CITIC Bank International, Citibank (Hong Kong), OCBC Wing Hang Bank and Public Bank (Hong Kong).

Within the first four hours of application, more than 750,000 citizens had registered through internet banking via mobile app or web pages.

The Bank of China banking web pages broke down for 30 minutes from 9am. A BOC spokesman said it was due to high online traffic on the first day of registration.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po wrote on his blog that people are required to input only three pieces of information for e-banking: the first four digits of the identification card number, mobile phone number and bank account number.

"Members of the public should beware of false websites and fraudulent e-mails/SMS/telephones and do not log in e-mails or hyperlinks from unknown sources," Chan added.

A reporter from The Standard registered through Standard Chartered's internet web page. Inputting the three pieces of required information took about a minute.

Stephanie Ma, 22, who registered on the HSBC internet banking web page, said she was able to register even when she had forgotten her online banking username. "I have a bank account with HSBC and the process to apply for the HK$10,000 is very convenient. The process took me less than three minutes," Ma said. By 5pm, HSBC had received more than 700,000 electronic registrations, said a spokesman.

HSBC introduced three mobile branches to accept paper application forms from Monday to Saturday. This service will last until the end of the registration period next year.

The mobile branches will visit public housing estates in 19 areas, especially locations without easy access to the bank's branch network, as part of efforts to promote financial inclusion, the bank spokesman said.

Registration through banks is available only for people with a local Hong Kong dollar savings or current bank account in their sole name in any of the 21 local banks.

Registrants with a joint account or personal account can opt for check payment by registering at Hongkong Post Office or its website.

Citizens with a Hong Kong permanent identity card, and aged 18 or above on or before March 31, 2021, are eligible for the cash handout.

The financial secretary reiterated that citizens registering from yesterday to June 30 can receive the money on July 8 at the earliest.

Those who register on or after July 1 can expect to receive the amount a week after their registration.

He called on citizens to spend the handout on local consumption to boost Hong Kong's economy.