Cash Payout Scheme advances payment for third batch of eligible registrants using paper forms to tomorrow as cumulative number of recipients approaches 90 per cent

     The Government announced today (August 11) that according to the batching arrangement for paper registrations under the Cash Payout Scheme, the third batch of eligible people (i.e. people born in 1971 to 2002) who registered on or before August 1, involving about 170 000 persons, will receive payment or notifications for cheque collection starting from tomorrow (August 12), i.e. five days earlier than the original scheduled date of August 17.

     People who have submitted paper forms to banks (Form 1) will receive payment through their specified personal bank accounts. Those who have submitted registration forms to Hongkong Post (Form 2 in paper or electronic version) will receive notifications for cheque collection from Hongkong Post via SMS or letters. They may collect the order cheques in person from the post offices they specified during the period (about one month) set out in the notifications. The cheques are valid for six months from the issue date.
      
      In view of the developments of the epidemic, Hongkong Post has announced that the post offices in Wong Tai Sin District, where the epidemic is relatively severe, will continue to be suspended from services until August 16. These post offices are Choi Hung Chuen Post Office, Chuk Yuen Post Office, Fu Shan Post Office, Lok Fu Post Office, Ngau Chi Wan Post Office, Tsz Wan Shan Post Office and Wong Tai Sin Post Office. All other post offices will maintain their normal opening hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but their closing hours will be advanced to 4pm. Moreover, as a postman working for Wan Chai Delivery Office had earlier tested positive for COVID-19, Hongkong Post has closed Wan Chai Post Office up to August 15 upon the advice of the Department of Health. The times for receiving notifications for cheque collection by some people (in particular those who have chosen to collect cheques at the post offices in Wong Tai Sin District and Wan Chai Post Office) will therefore be affected. The Government appeals for the public's understanding on this. The public may call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222 to enquire about the service hours of individual post offices.

     A Government spokesman reminded the public that as banks will send notifications including SMS to registrants as soon as possible after making payment, there is no need to rush to check account balances at banks' branches or personal banking centres (including checking transaction records by using passbook update machines). People will also have sufficient time to collect cheques from the post offices and there is no need to rush for collection of cheques at the post offices on the first one or two days. In view of the latest developments of the epidemic, people should avoid gathering at banks or post offices so as to reduce the risk of infection.

     The Cash Payout Scheme started to accept registration on June 21 this year. As of yesterday (August 10), the Scheme had disbursed payment or issued notifications for cheque collection to over 5.9 million eligible people. Together with the some 170 000 persons mentioned above, the cumulative number of recipients will account for about 90 per cent of the eligible people. The spokesman encouraged those eligible persons who have not yet registered to register electronically through banks, and payment will be received about one week after registration. People who choose to submit paper registration forms will receive payment or notifications for cheque collection about two weeks after registration.

     The public may visit the website of the Scheme (www.cashpayout.gov.hk) or call 18 2020 for detailed information on the Scheme.