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Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025
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Mainlanders still getting voucher cash
Authorities will vet people's eligibility for the consumption voucher before the last instalment is distributed on July 16, following reports that some mainlanders who had lived in the SAR but moved back home still received the HK$1,500 voucher on Sunday.
On mainland social media Weibo, some mainlanders shared their love for Hong Kong while posting screen captures of their half-payout even though they had left the city.
A mainland man, who had worked in Hong Kong and is living in Beijing, said he still received the voucher even though he didn't register for it.
"I got the voucher even though I had quit my job in Hong Kong. I love the Hong Kong government so much," he said.
A young woman with an IP address in Hebei province said: "I am so touched, HK. You still counted me in for the vouchers even though I graduated years ago. How can I not love you, Hong Kong."
Among the mainlanders who received the vouchers, some were in Shanghai, Beijing, Fujian and Shandong. Some even said they were so excited about visiting Hong Kong in the coming week to spend the vouchers.
People received the first consumption voucher installment of HK$3,000 on Sunday, while non-permanent residents and those who have come to the city to work or study are eligible to get half.
A spokesman of the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau told The Standard they will review citizens' eligibility before the second and last phase of HK$2,000 consumption vouchers in July.
"The government has disbursed the first installment of the consumption voucher to some 6.4 million eligible citizens according to the registration records of last year. Citizens need not register for this round of vouchers," he said.
The vouchers can be used only at local retailers, restaurants and service providers, with a deadline for collection and usage.
Despite some people complaining it is a waste of public funds, others said it could be the SAR's creative way to boost tourism.
A netizen said: "They need to visit Hong Kong in order to spend their vouchers. Then they would definitely be spending over HK$1,500 for booking hotel rooms and shopping."
A mainland man, who had worked in Hong Kong and is living in Beijing, said he still received the voucher even though he didn't register for it.
"I got the voucher even though I had quit my job in Hong Kong. I love the Hong Kong government so much," he said.
A young woman with an IP address in Hebei province said: "I am so touched, HK. You still counted me in for the vouchers even though I graduated years ago. How can I not love you, Hong Kong."
Among the mainlanders who received the vouchers, some were in Shanghai, Beijing, Fujian and Shandong. Some even said they were so excited about visiting Hong Kong in the coming week to spend the vouchers.
People received the first consumption voucher installment of HK$3,000 on Sunday, while non-permanent residents and those who have come to the city to work or study are eligible to get half.
A spokesman of the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau told The Standard they will review citizens' eligibility before the second and last phase of HK$2,000 consumption vouchers in July.
"The government has disbursed the first installment of the consumption voucher to some 6.4 million eligible citizens according to the registration records of last year. Citizens need not register for this round of vouchers," he said.
The vouchers can be used only at local retailers, restaurants and service providers, with a deadline for collection and usage.
Despite some people complaining it is a waste of public funds, others said it could be the SAR's creative way to boost tourism.
A netizen said: "They need to visit Hong Kong in order to spend their vouchers. Then they would definitely be spending over HK$1,500 for booking hotel rooms and shopping."
