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Usage of Consumption Vouchers

(Unless otherwise specified, "Consumption Voucher Scheme" or "the Scheme" on this page refers to 2022 (Phase II) Consumption Voucher Scheme.)

Coverage of consumption vouchers

In general, consumption vouchers can be used at local retail, catering and service outlets or their online platforms which accept payments by AlipayHK, BoC Pay, Octopus, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK. Examples include retail shops, market stalls, department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, fast food shops, coffee shops, recreational facilities, beauty salons, public transport, etc.

In principle, consumption vouchers cannot be used for the following transaction items [Note 1]:

  • payments to the Government (e.g. tax, fines, licence fees, tunnel fees, parking meters)
  • payments to public utilities (i.e. water, electricity and gas)
  • payments to public organisations (e.g. Hospital Authority, Hong Kong Housing Authority, Hong Kong Housing Society)
  • education expenses (i.e. payments to primary and secondary schools providing local and non-local curriculum, and UGC-funded universities)
  • purchase of financial products or services (e.g. insurance)
  • donation (including charitable, religious and political organisations)
  • direct purchases from merchants located outside Hong Kong (including online purchases through non-local online platforms made locally)
  • person to person payments
  • encashment

Note 1: Consumption vouchers received through AlipayHK, BoC Pay, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK cannot be used for the above transactions. Octopus will not count such transaction amounts in the calculation of the cumulative total "eligible spending". For transactions made by Octopus cards registered under the Scheme, those falling under the coverage of consumption voucher will automatically be counted in the calculation of the cumulative total "eligible spending" for determining whether and when an eligible registrant can receive the last $1,000 consumption voucher.

When people register for the Scheme (including the 2021 Consumption Voucher Scheme), the relevant guidelines have clearly stated that consumption vouchers can only be used for local consumption and cannot be encashed or used for other purposes. Stored value facility operators will monitor the transactions of merchants. If they suspect that individual merchants have act of irregularities, they will take follow-up actions, including blacklisting them so as to enable the Government to consider excluding them from the Scheme. If individuals or merchants are involved in fraudulent or deception activities, they may violate the law and we will refer the case to law enforcement agencies for follow-up.

How to use consumption vouchers

AlipayHK, BoC Pay, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK

The consumption vouchers disbursed will be separated from the existing e-wallet in the account. Members of public may choose whether to use the consumption vouchers for making payment and pay as usual. For details of how to use e-wallets and the consumption vouchers, please visit the websites of the SVF operators concerned or call their enquiry hotlines (click here for contacts of SVF operators).

Octopus

To use the consumption vouchers through Octopus cards, people only need to tap their Octopus card as usual on the card reader of a merchant, or make online payment through the Octopus App.

Validity period of consumption vouchers

Eligible registrants disbursed with $5,000 consumption vouchers (including both existing and new registrants)

AlipayHK, BoC Pay, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK

The first $2,000 consumption voucher and the second $3,000 consumption voucher disbursed on 7 August 2022 and 1 October 2022 respectively will both expire on 28 February 2023. Unspent balance of consumption vouchers will expire automatically after the validity period.

Octopus

After the eligible registrants tap the card/key through the designated channels to collect the consumption voucher disbursed, the voucher will be deposited into the Octopus card as stored value. There is no so called validity period. However, if the cumulative total "eligible spending" of an eligible registrant has not reached $4,000 as at 31 March 2023, he/she will not be disbursed with the last $1,000 consumption voucher.

Eligible registrants disbursed with $10,000 consumption vouchers

AlipayHK, BoC Pay, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK

The first $3,000 consumption voucher, the second $3,000 consumption voucher and the third $4,000 consumption voucher disbursed on 7 August 2022, 1 October 2022 and 1 December 2022 respectively will all expire on 30 April 2023. Unspent balance of consumption vouchers will expire automatically after the validity period.

Octopus

After the eligible registrants tap the card/key through the designated channels to collect the consumption voucher disbursed, the voucher will be deposited into the Octopus card as stored value. There is no so called validity period. However, if the cumulative total "eligible spending" of an eligible registrant has not reached $9,000 as at 31 May 2023, he/she will not be disbursed with the last $1,000 consumption voucher.

Checking records of disbursement, collection and usage of consumption vouchers

AlipayHK, BoC Pay, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK

Eligible registrants who choose to receive consumption vouchers through AlipayHK, BoC Pay, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go or WeChat Pay HK may go to the dedicated section for the Scheme in the Apps to check the relevant records, such as the amount disbursed and used, balance available for usage and validity period in respect of the disbursed vouchers.

Octopus

Eligible registrants who choose to receive consumption vouchers through Octopus card may check the relevant records, such as the cumulative total "eligible spending", "ineligible spending" transaction, the value of the consumption vouchers collected and deposited into the Octopus card, the value of the consumption vouchers yet to be collected and the deadlines for collecting consumption vouchers by the following means:

  • Octopus website (voucher.octopus.com.hk)[Note 2]
  • Octopus Service Points (Click here to check the locations of Octopus Service Points)
  • Customer Service Hotline: 2969 5588
  • Octopus App[Note 2]
    • Android - NFC-enabled mobile devices
    • iOS - iPhone 7 or newer models with iOS 13 or above, or connected with an Octopus Mobile Reader

Note 2: People may check the transaction records in respect of their "eligible spending" by entering their Octopus card number and registration reference number in the Octopus website, or by adding the relevant Octopus card to the Octopus App.