Hongkongers could get HK$10,000 handout earlier than expected as millions apply through online banking
- Government’s cash payout scheme, which opened for applications on June 21, received more than 5.5 million registrations by 5pm on Thursday
- Finance chief Paul Chan says the scheme has been running smoothly over the past two weeks
Millions of Hongkongers could get their HK$10,000 (US$1,290) cash handout two days earlier than expected after more than 70 per cent of the city’s population registered for the sweetener.
The government’s cash payout scheme, which opened for applications on June 21, received more than 5.5 million registrations by 5pm on Thursday, with 85 per cent made online through banks.
Of the roughly 4.7 million electronic applications made through banks, 64 per cent were registered by internet banking services and the rest were from banks’ websites.
“This helps banks save parts of their procedures to verify [the identities] of their clients and receive the registrations in a swifter manner,” Chan said.
“So, around 4.3 million eligible people who completed online registration through banks between June 21 and June 30 will be able to receive the payment to their designated personal banking account earlier within two or three days from July 6.”
