Hongkongers out to spend consumption vouchers but business owners note weaker boost in sales compared with last round
- Crowds build up in major shopping centres on Thursday afternoon as more than 6.3 million residents receive up to HK$5,000 in digital vouchers
- However, some small business owners say they did not see an immediate increase in sales on the first day compared with the previous round
Hong Kong residents came out to spend their first round of the government’s consumption vouchers on Thursday, but some small business owners said the immediate impact of the scheme was much weaker than it was last year.
Crowds built up in the afternoon in major shopping centres such as those in Causeway Bay and Kwun Tong after a quiet morning, as more than 6.3 million eligible residents received up to HK$5,000 (US$638) worth of the digital coupons, with another HK$5,000 to be distributed in August.
The latest round of the scheme offers double the amount provided to each resident in the government’s previous consumption voucher programme. This year’s handouts are expected to cost the government HK$66.4 billion.
Rita Li, sales and marketing director of Octopus Cards, the most popular e-payment platform among residents – said on Thursday the first 500,000 customers to collect their consumption vouchers with the Octopus app for the first time would receive a HK$10 reward.
Li conceded that it was harder to push out more offers as many were still staying home, but said there were more perks to come.
“During the pandemic, residents may choose to go out less. It’s not very practical to roll out more offers in this environment,” she said. “In the future, we will announce more offers with businesses and merchants. We hope everyone can wait patiently.”
Some e-payment platforms disbursing the vouchers this year have also toned down on offers, preferring to wait until Covid-related social-distancing measures are more relaxed before announcing more perks.
