Consumption Voucher Scheme has disbursed first voucher to about 5.5 million registrants today
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A Government spokesman said that the Government today (August 1) had disbursed via the four stored value facility (SVF) operators the first $2,000 consumption voucher to about 5.5 million eligible people who had completed electronic registration by July 17. These people will also successively receive SMS notifications or mobile app push notifications on the disbursement today.
People who have completed electronic registration on or after July 18 and all who have submitted paper registration forms will receive the first $2,000 consumption voucher on September 1 after verification of eligibility.
For people who chose to collect the vouchers via AlipayHK, Tap & Go or WeChat Pay HK, the $2,000 vouchers have been directly injected into their specified SVF accounts, which will be separated from the existing e-wallet in the account. When making payment, they only need to open the app and choose whether to use the vouchers and then pay as usual.
Those who chose to collect the vouchers via Octopus cards may collect the $2,000 voucher by tapping the card at the Subsidy Collection Points of the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme at MTR stations, Light Rail Customer Service Centres, designated piers and public transport interchanges; designated convenience stores and supermarkets; Octopus Service Points; or via Octopus app within three months from today. The voucher will be combined with the value stored in the Octopus card. People using the registered Octopus cards for local consumption will automatically use the consumption vouchers. Consumption falling within the usage scope of the consumption vouchers will automatically be counted towards the total “eligible spending”.
The consumption vouchers have a wide usage scope. In general, the vouchers can be used at local retail, catering and service outlets or their online platforms which accept payments by the four designated SVFs, such as retail shops, market stalls, department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, fast food shops, coffee shops, recreational facilities, beauty salons and public transport, etc. However, the vouchers could not be used for the following transaction items:
- 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 locally)
- person to person payments
- encashment
The public may browse the apps and websites or call the following hotlines of the relevant SVF operators to enquire about how to use the vouchers, the value of the vouchers disbursed, unspent/available balance, and expiry dates, etc.
AlipayHK: 2245 3201
Octopus: 2969 5500
Tap & Go: 2888 0000
WeChat Pay HK: 3929 1666
People who have completed electronic registration will normally receive SMS notifications on the registration results in about one week. If registrants who have completed electronic registration on or before July 17 have not yet received the SMS notifications on their registration results, they may enquire about their registration status through the interactive voice response system of the hotline 18 5000.
The Government spokesman reminded eligible people who have not yet registered to submit registration by August 14. People choosing to submit paper registration form need to staple their identity (ID) card copy together with the form. Those who have chosen to upload their ID card copy for authentication in respect of their electronic registration should upload it via the Scheme website by August 16. Otherwise, the electronic registrations submitted will be regarded as incomplete and will not be processed.
Meanwhile, the Government spokesman reminded people that they should carefully protect their personal data when registering for the Scheme and using the vouchers. They should only seek help from those they trust if assistance is needed. The Government and its contractors will only communicate with the registrants by designated telephone numbers. The designated telephone numbers are listed on the Scheme website (www.consumptionvoucher.gov.hk).
The public may visit the Scheme website or call the hotline 18 5000 for enquiries if they have any questions about the Scheme.
Ends/Sunday, August 1, 2021
Issued at HKT 8:00
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