The Government announced today (June 18) that the Consumption Voucher Scheme (the Scheme) will open for registration on July 4, 2021. Hong Kong permanent residents and new arrivals aged 18 or above on or before June 18, 2021, and residing in Hong Kong, may register to receive electronic consumption vouchers with a total value of $5,000 by instalments. The Consumption Voucher Scheme website www.consumptionvoucher.gov.hk will be open for electronic registration from 6am on July 4 (Sunday). Those who choose to register using paper form may put the forms into the designated drop boxes from July 5 (Monday) during office hours. The registration period will last for six weeks until August 14, 2021.
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, "Members of the public may register electronically by visiting the Scheme's website, which is the fastest way to receive the vouchers. In general, registrants who have completed electronic registration by July 17 will receive the first voucher on August 1 after their eligibility is confirmed. Persons who submit paper forms or have completed electronic registration on or after July 18 will receive the first voucher on September 1 after their eligibility is confirmed.
"I hope that the disbursement of $5,000 electronic consumption vouchers will encourage the public to spend in local retail, catering and service sectors using the convenient stored value facilities, hence boosting consumer sentiment and accelerating local economic recovery. The Scheme will also help local small-and-medium merchants explore potential business opportunities by adopting electronic payments."
Members of the public who choose to register electronically will be required to authenticate their identity. If they have successfully registered for the Cash Payout Scheme announced last year and received payment before today, they may choose to answer security questions related to the Cash Payout Scheme as authentication means. Alternatively, they may also authenticate their identity through the "iAM Smart" App. Upon authentication of the registrants' identity, the registrants will not need to fill in their personal data again. They only need to provide the related number of the stored value facility for collecting the vouchers and make declaration regarding the "residing in Hong Kong" requirement to complete the registration. Those who do not authenticate their identity via the abovementioned means may upload a copy of their Hong Kong identity card as notified to complete the registration procedure after inputting their personal information.
Registrants choosing to submit paper form should drop the completed form, together with a copy of their Hong Kong identity card, into the drop boxes at around 560 Collection Points including post offices in various districts and designated brank branches during office hours.
Members of the public may choose one of the four designated stored value facilities, namely AlipayHK, Octopus, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK, that best fits themselves to receive the $5,000 consumption vouchers by instalments.
For those who choose to receive the consumption vouchers via AlipayHK, Tap & Go or WeChat Pay HK, the vouchers will be directly injected into their designated stored value facility account through the corresponding Mobile App by two instalments according to the disbursement schedule in Annex 1. The two consumption vouchers can be used together, and will have the same expiry date.
Those choosing Octopus will receive the consumption vouchers by three instalments according to the disbursement timetable set out in Annex 2. They may collect the vouchers by tapping the card at the Subsidy Collection Points of Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme at MTR stations, light rail customer service centres, designated public transport interchanges and ferry piers; designated convenience stores and supermarkets; Octopus Service Points or via Octopus App. The deadline for collection is three months after disbursement.
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The consumption vouchers have a wide coverage, covering in general all local retail, catering and service outlets and their online platforms, as well as taking public transport. The following transaction items are excluded:
• Payments to the Government (e.g. tax, fines, licence fees, tunnel fees, parking meters)
• Payments to public utilities (i.e. water, electricity and gas)
• Payments to public organisations (e.g. Hospital Authority, Hong Kong Housing Authority, Hong Kong Housing Society)
• Education expenses (i.e. payments to primary and secondary schools providing local and non-local curriculum, and UGC-funded universities)
• Purchase of financial products or services (e.g. insurance)
• Donation (including charitable, religious and political organisations)
• Direct purchases from merchants located outside Hong Kong (including online purchases through non-local online platforms made in Hong Kong)
• Person to person payments
• Encashment
The public may browse the website of the Scheme at www.consumptionvoucher.gov.hk or call the hotline 18 5000 to obtain detailed information on the Scheme.
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