Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced in his 2021-22 budget last month that the coupons would be issued to 7.2 million Hongkongers through digital platforms by this summer at the earliest.

The HK$36 billion measure to boost local consumption will see the coupons issued in five installments of HK$1,000 to eligible Hong Kong permanent residents and new arrivals aged 18 or above.

Speaking on a radio program yesterday, Sit said the government is working out the simplest and most convenient option out of the available stored value operators.

He said one such option is the Faster Payment System, which has nearly seven million users.

In the meantime, the government has started working out arrangements for the coupons' distribution with multiple stored value operators with the hope that the public can use them as soon as possible, Sit said, though he did not spell a timetable for their release.

"For those who are willing to submit their personal information to the registration system, the government can streamline application procedures so they receive the coupons earlier," he said.

Sources said the government has approached the Octopus company regarding the coupon scheme, and residents can only choose one stored value operator.

On the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app developed by his bureau, Sit said it has been downloaded more than 3.34 million times since its launch last November - equivalent to 40 percent of the city's total population.

He said the app could serve its purpose in contact-tracing, as over 5,000 citizens underwent testing in community centers after receiving an exposure notification from the app at the height of the Mr Ming's Chinese Dining cluster at Tsim Sha Tsui's K11 Musea.

"I hope more citizens use the app so as to assist the authorities in carrying out contact-tracing of Covid-19 patients," he said.