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Eligibility Criteria and Voucher Value

(Unless otherwise specified, "Consumption Voucher Scheme" or "the Scheme" on this page refers to the 2023 Consumption Voucher Scheme 2nd Instalment.)

Eligibility Criteria

The registrant should fulfil the criteria below [Note 1] -

  1. being aged 18 or above on or before 29 May 2023 ("eligibility date"); and
  2. as at eligibility date,
    1. being a Hong Kong permanent resident holding a valid Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card ("HKPIC")[Note 2] or a valid Certificate of Exemption ("EC") issued by the Commissioner of Registration under the Registration of Persons Regulations, Cap. 177A[Note 3]; or
    2. being a Hong Kong resident holding a valid Hong Kong Identity Card ("HKIC")[Note 4] or EC[Note 5] issued by the Commissioner of Registration under the Registration of Persons Regulations, Cap. 177A, who has come to Hong Kong on Permit for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao (commonly known as "One Way Permit") or, who has valid permission to remain in Hong Kong[Note 6] as a dependant sponsored by (B)(i) above; or
    3. subject to Note 7, being a Hong Kong resident holding a valid HKIC[Note 4] or EC[Note 5] issued by the Commissioner of Registration under the Registration of Persons Regulations, Cap. 177A, who has valid permission to remain in Hong Kong[Note 6] and not belonging to the types of persons referred to in (B)(ii) above; and
  3. not having permanently departed from Hong Kong nor having such intention [Note 8].

[Note 1: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government ("Government") reserves the right to decide the eligibility of individual registrants after taking into account the specified criteria (i.e. criteria (A) to (C)) and any other factors relating to the individual registrants which the Government considers relevant for the purpose of the 2023 Consumption Voucher Scheme ("Scheme") (including but not limited to ensuring proper use of public funds, preventing abuse of the Scheme, and preventing any disbursement which would be contrary to any applicable legal provisions or requirements).]

[Note 2: A registrant is also considered as fulfilling criterion (B)(i) in respect of the documentary proof on HKPIC if he/she is holding an acknowledgement of application for a HKPIC (i.e. ROP140/ROP140A) with a valid collection period.]

[Note 3: For the purpose of the Scheme, a registrant holding a valid HKIC or EC is also considered fulfilling criterion (B)(i) if he/she:-

  1. is eligible for attaining the Hong Kong permanent resident status on or before eligibility date; and
  2. has submitted an application for verification of eligibility for permanent identity card ("VEPIC") to the Immigration Department on or before eligibility date and the VEPIC application is subsequently approved on or before 31 August 2023.]

[Note 4: A registrant is also considered as fulfilling criterion (B)(ii) or (B)(iii) in respect of the documentary proof on HKIC if he/she is holding an acknowledgement of application for a HKIC (i.e. ROP140/ROP140A) with a valid collection period.

A Hong Kong resident who is not holding a HKIC or ROP140/ROP140A as at eligibility date but has arrived Hong Kong on or before eligibility date and has obtained a HKIC (or a ROP140/ROP140A with a valid collection period) between 30 May and 27 June 2023 is considered as fulfilling criterion (B)(ii) or (B)(iii) in respect of the documentary proof on HKIC.

For the purpose of the Scheme, HKIC refers to an identity card with the words "Hong Kong Identity Card" on the card face.]

[Note 5: A Hong Kong resident who has arrived Hong Kong on or before eligibility date and has obtained an EC between 30 May and 27 June 2023 is considered as fulfilling criterion (B)(ii) or (B)(iii) in respect of the documentary proof on EC.]

[Note 6: For the purpose of the Scheme, "valid permission to remain in Hong Kong" means permission under the Immigration Ordinance, Cap. 115 to remain in Hong Kong, except permission to remain in Hong Kong as visitors.]

[Note 7: The following persons, though being a Hong Kong resident holding a valid HKIC or EC issued by the Commissioner of Registration under Cap. 177A (where applicable) who has valid permission to remain in Hong Kong, are ineligible for the Scheme -

  • any person who is employed as a contract worker from outside Hong Kong under a Government importation of labour scheme; or
  • any person who is employed as a domestic helper from outside Hong Kong; or
  • any person who is a member of consular post within the meaning of the Consular Relations Ordinance, Cap. 557; or
  • any person who is a member of the Hong Kong Garrison; or
  • any person who is the holder of a prescribed Central People's Government travel document.]

[Note 8: For the purpose of the Scheme, in determining whether a person has permanently departed from Hong Kong or has such intention, the Government will take into account, but not limited to, the following factors -

  1. whether the person has been continuously absent from Hong Kong for the 36 months immediately before eligibility date, and if so, whether during the said period, he/she was:
    1. a recipient of assistance under the Portable Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, allowance under the Guangdong Scheme, or allowance under the Fujian Scheme;
    2. studying in a school/university outside Hong Kong which is recognised by the relevant authority;
    3. a participant of the Working Holiday Scheme administered by the Labour Department;
    4. hospitalised outside Hong Kong for medical reasons;
    5. performing duties outside Hong Kong for the Government or for a company/organisation located in Hong Kong on a temporary basis*; or accompanying an immediate family member performing such duties; and/or
    6. having other exceptional reason(s) as may be determined by the Government as valid for the purpose of the Scheme; and
      *For the purpose of the Scheme, it means the person is employed by a company or organisation located in Hong Kong and has been temporarily deployed to work outside Hong Kong, and has the intention to return to Hong Kong after the deployment.
  2. whether on or before eligibility date, the person has submitted any valid claim request for withdrawal of his/her mandatory provident fund ("MPF") or benefits under MPF exempted Occupational Retirement Schemes before reaching age 65 on the grounds of permanent departure from Hong Kong under the MPF legislation; and
  3. whether as at eligibility date, the person is holding a valid locally issued HKPIC if he/she is a Hong Kong permanent resident; and
  4. whether there is any evidence or information based on which the Government believes that the person has no intention of returning to Hong Kong in the foreseeable future.]

Total value of vouchers disbursed to eligible registrants

Depending on the category to which eligible registrants belong and whether they have been disbursed with the 1st-instalment voucher on 16 April, the total value of the 2nd-instalment voucher disbursed to them will vary. Details are as follows:

Eligible registrants meeting eligibility criterion (B)(i) or (B)(ii) Eligible registrants meeting eligibility criterion (B)(iii)
Existing registrants (i.e. those who have been disbursed with the 1st-instalment voucher on 16 April) [Note] $2,000 (disbursement on 16 July) $1,000 (disbursement on 16 July)
New registrants $3,000 (disbursement on 16 July)

$2,000 (disbursement on 16 October)		 $1,500 (disbursement on 16 July)

$1,000 (disbursement on 16 October)
Note: For existing registrants who have chosen to collect both the 1st-instalment and 2nd-instalment consumption vouchers through Octopus, their cumulative total "eligible spending" should not be less than the value of the 1st-instalment voucher within a specified timeframe before they will be disbursed with the 2nd-instalment voucher. For details, please click here.