Letters | Why Hong Kong’s spending voucher scheme is a winning idea all-round

The HK$5,000 per person voucher scheme, with the first instalments due to be distributed from August 1, is timely blessing and win-win proposition for all in Hong Kong (“Why Hongkongers need to spend handout on ‘useless’ things” July 18).

For the government, the HK$36 billion (US$4.63 billion) programme is affordable expenditure that improves its overall image and eases the relationship between the administration and Hongkongers, after the serious rifts caused by the social movements and misunderstandings over the push for vaccinations earlier this year. Approval ratings of the government are sure to rise after this campaign takes effect.

This time, instead of giving out cash, the government has limited the use of the handout to expenditure at different retail outlets, restaurants, and so on. Of course, this measure will help to boost business for those companies, while also no doubt boosting happiness levels among the population. Meanwhile the various digital payment platforms involved will see an uptick in usage, taking the city a step closer to the digital age in terms of e-wallet use.