Hong Kong finance chief brushes off concerns over consumption vouchers after being criticised for not offering cash
- Some residents have expressed worries about not receiving this year’s vouchers after making changes to the digital wallets they used last time around
- Politicians, meanwhile, have faulted the financial secretary for not simply giving struggling residents HK$10,000 in cash instead
Hong Kong’s finance chief has sought to play down concerns about the decision to distribute handouts to residents in the form of digital consumption vouchers after being taken to task in some quarters for not offering cash instead.
The voucher scheme, a repeat of a similar initiative last year aimed at boosting consumer spending, was the most eye-catching announcement in Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s 2022-23 budget, which was unveiled on Wednesday.
Under the scheme, 6.6 million eligible residents will be able to receive HK$10,000 (US$1,281) worth of vouchers via electronic payment platforms for use in restaurants and shops, and on public transport.
“We hope to distribute the first half of HK$5,000 in vouchers to those greatly impacted by the epidemic as soon as possible. They have the flexibility to decide when to use it,” Chan told a radio programme on Thursday morning.
Those who signed up for the previous vouchers – worth HK$5,000 in total – will automatically receive the first instalment in April, while new applicants will only get their money around midyear.
