A shopper scans a QR code to redeem a shopping voucher at a mall in Hong Kong on Aug 1, 2021, as the first batch of HK$2,000 consumption vouchers were disbursed by the Hong Kong government. (BERTHA WANG / AFP)
HONG KONG – About 3 million people who collected their first consumption voucher via Octopus on August 1 and whose cumulative total "eligible spending" has reached HK$4,000 ($512.88) by the end of November will receive the remaining HK$1,000 voucher on Dec 16, a government spokesman said Monday.
A government spokesman reminded people who received the first and second vouchers respectively on Aug 1 and Oct 1 via AlipayHK, Tap & Go or WeChat Pay HK that the validity period of their vouchers will expire on Dec 31. The unused voucher value will automatically become invalid after the expiry date
In a statement issued on Monday afternoon, the spokesman said recipients may collect the vouchers by tapping the card at the Subsidy Collection Points of the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme, designated convenience stores and supermarkets, Octopus Service Points or via the Octopus mobile app.
If their cumulative total "eligible spending" did not reach HK$4,000 by the end of November, they still have until the end of February next year to spend the vouchers. They will then receive the last HK$1,000 voucher on March 16 next year.
The spokesman said those who have questions about their cumulative total "eligible spending" or whether they can collect the last HK$1,000 voucher on December 16 may inquire through the Octopus mobile app, the Octopus website, or call Octopus customer service hotline at 2969 5500.
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Meanwhile, the spokesman reminded people who received the first and second vouchers respectively on Aug 1 and Oct 1 via AlipayHK, Tap & Go or WeChat Pay HK that the validity period of their vouchers will expire on Dec 31. The unused voucher value will automatically become invalid after the expiry date.
In general, the vouchers can be used at local retail, catering and service outlets or online platforms which accept payments by the four designated SVFs, such as retail shops, market stalls, department stores, supermarkets, and restaurants.
However, the vouchers cannot be used for payments to the government, public utilities, public organizations, education expenses, purchase of financial products or services, donations, direct purchases from merchants located outside Hong Kong, person-to-person payments, and encashments.
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The government announced the HK$36 billion consumption voucher program in February's budget in a bid to boost the pandemic-hit economy. The government estimated some 7.2 million people to benefit from the program, which is expected to contribute 0.7 percent to GDP growth in 2021.