HK$5,000 vouchers: Hong Kong digital payment providers offer more goodies to lure consumers to platforms, finance chief warns merchants to play straight
- Rival payment platforms chosen for e-voucher scheme unveil raft of new offers, including additional digital money and iPhone giveaways
- Merchants who conspire with consumers to cash in the vouchers will be blacklisted and could face law enforcement action, Financial Secretary Paul Chan says
Digital payment providers have ramped up rewards and discounts to tempt consumers to their platforms for the government’s HK$5,000 (US$650) electronic voucher roll-out, while Hong Kong’s finance minister has warned merchants against conspiring with shoppers to fraudulently cash in the coupons.
The rival payment platforms chosen for the e-voucher scheme unveiled a raft of new offers on Saturday, including additional digital money and iPhone giveaways, as they compete for up to 7.2 million eligible consumers.
He added that the four payment platforms – Octopus, AliPayHK, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK – would also be “closely monitored” for such irregularities.
Consumers will have at least five months to spend the handouts, which come in instalments, on retail shopping, restaurant dining and public transport.
