Speaking on an RTHK program, the chairman of Taxi Dealers and Owners Association, Ng Kwan-shing, said on Friday that the number of drivers who have set up e-wallets on their taxis has jumped by more than 20 per cent in the past month.

“Taxi drivers hope to take advantage of the spending vouchers scheme and do more business. Companies operating different digital payment systems have deployed a lot of staff to taxi stops and petrol stations to help drivers set up the e-wallets,” he said.

He said these companies had also encouraged drivers to use the e-wallets by exempting them from paying service fees.

He hoped the fee exemption could continue in future.

Residents who have registered for the spending vouchers will get the first installment of HK$2,000 via the digital wallets of their choice, namely Octopus Card, AlipayHK, Tap & Go or WeChat Pay HK.

The government has said it hopes the HK$5,000 spending voucher scheme will boost local spending amid the Covid-19 pandemic.