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FAQs

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

A. Eligibility Criteria

1. Who are eligible for the consumption vouchers disbursed under the 2nd Instalment?
2. Are persons aged 18 or above as at the eligibility date but have yet to replace their juvenile identity cards with adult identity cards eligible under the Scheme?
3. What is a valid Hong Kong Identity Card ("HKIC")?
4. What is an acknowledgement of application for a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or Hong Kong Identity Card (ROP140/ROP140A) with a valid collection period? Do holders of the aforesaid acknowledgement of application also satisfy the requirement of the Scheme?
5. What is a Certificate of Exemption ("EC")? Are holders of an EC eligible under the Scheme?
6. Do holders of an old Hong Kong Identity Card ("HKIC") (i.e. HKIC issued before 23 June 2003) meet the requirement under the Scheme?
7. Are people who have attained the Hong Kong permanent resident status but are not holders of Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card ("HKPIC") (e.g. those who are applying for Verification of Eligibility for Permanent Identity Card) eligible under the Scheme?
8. If a person has lost his/her Hong Kong Identity Card ("HKPIC"), will it affect his/her eligibility for the Scheme?
9. What is a locally-issued Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card ("HKPIC")?
10. Are holders of an overseas-issued Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card ("HKPIC") eligible under the Scheme?
11. For a holder of overseas-issued Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card ("HKPIC") who has returned to Hong Kong and applied to the Registration of Persons Office for replacement of a locally-issued HKPIC, does he/she satisfy the requirements under the Scheme?
12. What is a Permit for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao (commonly known as "One-way Permit")?
13. What does it mean by a person who "has valid permission to remain in Hong Kong as a dependant"?
14. Are non-permanent Hong Kong residents (e.g. persons who have come to Hong Kong on a Permit for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao or have valid permission to remain in Hong Kong as dependants sponsored by a Hong Kong permanent resident) who do not hold a Hong Kong Identity Card ("HKIC") eligible under the Scheme?
15. If a non-permanent Hong Kong resident (e.g. a person who is sponsored by a Hong Kong permanent resident and stays in Hong Kong as a dependant) has his/her permission of stay expired and is applying for an extension of stay, will he/she satisfy the requirement of the Scheme?
16. Will holders of Hong Kong Identity Card ("HKIC") who have neither come to Hong Kong on Permit for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao nor valid permission to remain in Hong Kong as a dependant sponsored by a Hong Kong permanent resident satisfy the requirement of the Scheme?
17. Will holders of Hong Kong Identity Card with right to land in Hong Kong or who are permitted to remain in Hong Kong on unconditional stay satisfy the requirements of the Scheme?
18. How will the Government decide whether a registrant satisfies the requirement of "not having permanently departed from Hong Kong nor having such intention". Will all registrants be required to make a declaration?
19. Will a person who has been continuously absent from Hong Kong for the 36 months immediately before 29 May 2023 be regarded as having permanently departed from Hong Kong under the Scheme?
20. What documents do the registrants selected for checks have to provide to prove that they have not been continuously absent from Hong Kong for the 36 months immediately before 29 May 2023, or can be exempted from the relevant requirement?
21. How will the Government contact the registrants selected for checks and request them to provide documents to prove that they have not been continuously absent from Hong Kong for the 36 months immediately before 29 May 2023, or can be exempted from the relevant requirement? How and by when should the selected registrants submit the required documents?
22. Do recipients of the Portable Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme meet the "not having permanently departed from Hong Kong nor having such intention" requirement under the Scheme?
23. What is the meaning of having submitted valid claim requests for early withdrawal of one's Mandatory Provident Fund ("MPF") or benefits under MPF exempted Occupational Retirement Schemes ("benefits") before reaching age 65 on the grounds of "permanent departure from Hong Kong"? Does the person concerned need to have left Hong Kong or withdrawn the relevant MPF or benefits on or before 29 May 2023 to be considered as not satisfying the relevant requirement of the Scheme?
24. How will the Government verify whether a registrant has submitted on or before 29 May 2023 a valid claim request for early withdrawal of his/her Mandatory Provident Fund ("MPF") or benefits under MPF exempted Occupational Retirement Schemes ("benefits") before reaching age 65 on the grounds of "permanent departure from Hong Kong"?

B. Registration Timetable and Procedures

1. Are registrants who have been disbursed with consumption vouchers in the past required to register again?
2. Are existing registrants required to submit registration again if they want to switch to another stored value facility for receiving the 2nd Instalment consumption voucher?
3. How can eligible people register for the Scheme or amend their registration records (including changing the stored value facility account)?
4. What information should a registrant get ready to complete registration or amend registration records through the electronic registration portal in the Scheme website?
5. What are the addresses and operating hours of the temporary service centres? Should appointment be made in advance?
6. What information should people get ready to complete registration or amend registration records before visiting the temporary service centres?
7. Can eligible people register or amend their registration records through the electronic registration portal in the Scheme website if they do not have an iAM Smart Account?
8. Further to the above question, how can one register for an iAM Smart account?
9. If people have submitted a valid claim request for early withdrawal of their Mandatory Provident Fund ("MPF") or benefits under MPF exempted Occupational Retirement Schemes before reaching age 65 on the ground of "permanent departure from Hong Kong", does it render them ineligible for registration?
10. For those who were ruled ineligible under the 2022 (Phase II) Consumption Voucher Scheme ("CVS") due to the reason of permanently departed from Hong Kong, can they submit registration afresh this year?

Existing Registrants (Registrants who were disbursed with 1st-instalment voucher on 16 April)

11. Will an existing registrant receive the 2nd-instalment voucher automatically without registering afresh if he/she does not switch to another SVF?
12. How can an existing registrant know that he/she fulfills the eligibility criteria of the Scheme? When will he/she be notified of his/her registration result?
13. How can existing registrants check their registration records (including the related number of the SVF account for receiving consumption vouchers and contact telephone number)?
14. Can existing registrants switch to another SVF or another account of the same SVF for receiving 2nd-instalment voucher?
15. What should people do if their Octopus cards for receiving the 1st-instalment voucher under 2023 CVS have been lost or malfunctioned?
16. Can people using an Octopus card to receive their 1st-instalment voucher under the 2023 CVS switch to use a JoyYou card to receive the 2nd-instalment voucher?
17. Is it necessary for registrant who has transferred their physical Octopus card registered under 2023 CVS 1st Instalment to Octopus card on Mobile to update their registration record in order to receive the 2nd-instalment voucher?
18. What should a registrant do if he/she has lost his/her phone/SIM card or fails to log in the SVF account for receiving his/her 1st-instalment voucher under 2023 CVS or his/her SVF account has become invalid?
19. If registrants have forgotten their registration information and fail to answer the security questions for identity authentication, can they still switch to another SVF account for receiving consumption vouchers through the electronic registration portal in the CVS website? How can they access their registration information?
20. Can I change to use another person's SVF account for receiving the 2nd-instalment consumption voucher?
21. When and how will existing registrants be notified if they have successfully amended the registration record?
22. After successful changing of the SVF account for receiving the consumption vouchers, can the registrants change again? What will the Government do if more than one amendment application is received from the same registrant?
23. If registrants fail to change their SVF account, will they not be issued the 2nd-instalment voucher?

New Registrants

24. How can eligible persons register to receive consumption vouchers?
25. If a registrant is unable to provide an SMS-enabled local mobile phone number, can he/she register?
26. Can registrants who do not have a local contact telephone number provide an overseas or Mainland contact telephone number on the registration form?
27. Can eligible people who have not registered for 2022 CVS register now to receive the consumption vouchers under 2022 CVS?
28. How can a registrant know that his/her registration is completed? When will a registrant be notified of his/her registration result?
29. What will the Government do if more than one registration is received from the same registrant?
30. Can a registrant switch to another SVF or SVF account for receiving the consumption vouchers after successful registration?
31. If a registrant discovers after registration that he/she has inadvertently provided incorrect information, what should he/she do?

Other Registration Issues

32. Will respective SVF operators provide any facilitation measures or promotion activities to assist people to register for the Scheme?
33. How to prevent impersonation or fraudulent use of identity for registration or changing the SVF account used by an existing registrant for receiving the 2nd-instalment consumption voucher when anonymous Octopus cards or e-wallets are allowed to be used for receiving consumption vouchers under the CVS?
34. What should one do if he/she discovers fraudulent use of his/her identity for registration/amending registration records?
35. Can one request the Government to disburse consumption vouchers directly to another person (e.g. family member) or an organisation (e.g. charity)?
36. Can one register for the Scheme and receive consumption vouchers on behalf of another person (e.g. elderly family member)?
37. How can members of the public verify the authenticity of the notifications received through SMS?

C. Stored Value Facilities

1. What are the SVF available for receiving consumption vouchers under the Scheme?
2. Are only certain types of Octopus accepted for receiving consumption vouchers under the Scheme?
3. Is it necessary to use a SVF account which has been real-name registered for receiving consumption vouchers?
4. How do the consumption vouchers collected through different SVFs under the Scheme differ? How should registrants make their choice?
5. Are registrants allowed to switch the stored value facility ("SVF") or account concerned for receiving consumption vouchers in the midst of the 2nd Instalment?
6. Will the SVF operators under the Scheme charge registrants who use their SVFs for receiving and using consumption vouchers handling fee?
7. Can one use more than one SVF for receiving consumption vouchers under 2nd Instalment?
8. Can the same SVF account be used by more than one registrant for receiving consumption vouchers under 2nd Instalment?
9. What should people do if he/she is notified that his/her SVF account used for registration / application for amendment of registration record is invalid and his/her registration / application is therefore unsuccessful?

D. Voucher Value and Disbursement Timetable

Existing registrants (i.e. people who have been disbursed with 1st-instalment consumption vouchers on 16 April 2023)

1. What is the voucher value that will be disbursed to eligible existing registrants? When will the voucher be disbursed?
2. Will existing registrants who switch SVF accounts receive voucher later?
3. What are the collection arrangements and validity periods of the vouchers disbursed through different SVF?
4. If eligible existing registrants who have received the 1st-instalment voucher through Octopus choose to receive the 2nd-instalment voucher through the five e-wallets (i.e. AlipayHK, BoC Pay, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK), do they have to meet the cumulative total "eligible spending" requirement in respect of the 1st-instalment voucher before they will be disbursed with the 2nd-instalment voucher?
5. If eligible existing registrants who have received the 1st-instalment voucher through the five e-wallets (i.e. AlipayHK, BoC Pay, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK) choose to receive the 2nd-instalment voucher through Octopus, do they need to use up the value of the 1st-instalment voucher before they will be disbursed with the 2nd-instalment voucher?
6. Is there any cumulative total "eligible spending" requirement for receiving the 2nd-instalment voucher through Octopus?

New registrants

7. What is the voucher value that will be disbursed to new eligible registrants? When and by how many installments will the vouchers be disbursed?
8. What are the collection arrangements and validity periods of the vouchers disbursed through different SVF?

Other disbursement related matters

9. Will all eligible registrants (including existing and new registrants) be disbursed with vouchers at the same time?
10. Will the time for receiving consumption vouchers be delayed for registrants who are selected for check?

E. Collection procedures


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

1. How to receive consumption vouchers through AlipayHK, BoC Pay, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go or WeChat Pay HK?
2. How to check the value disbursed and used, available balance and validity period in respect of the consumption vouchers disbursed?

Octopus

3. How to receive consumption vouchers through Octopus?
4. Is it possible to help others collect consumption vouchers through the Octopus App by tapping the card?
5. How to collect consumption vouchers if the stored value of an Octopus card has reached its limit?
6. How to check the cumulative amount of "eligible spending", the transaction records of "ineligible spending", the value of the consumption vouchers collected and deposited into the Octopus card, the value of the consumption voucher(s) yet to be collected and the deadlines for collecting the consumption vouchers?
7. For those who want to collect consumption vouchers at the outlets of 7-Eleven, Circle K, Wellcome, Market Place by Jasons, Market Place and 3hreesixty, are they required to make purchases there before collecting vouchers?
8. For those who are eligible to collect both the public transport fare subsidy and consumption vouchers, which one will be collected first if the stored value of their Octopus card is about to reach its limit?
9. Do people using Octopus to receive consumption vouchers need to tap their card to fully collect all the consumption vouchers disbursed under the previous CVSs before they will be disbursed with the consumption vouchers under the 2023 CVS 2nd Instalment on or after 16 July 2023?

F. Using the Consumption Vouchers

Validity periods of consumption vouchers

1. What are the validity periods of the consumption vouchers?

Scope of coverage (Same as 2021 CVS to 2023 CVS 1st Instalment)

2. What consumption items can consumption vouchers be used on?
3. Further to the above question, how can I identify merchants which accept consumption vouchers?
4. Is there a list of merchants who accept the use of consumption vouchers?
5. Can consumption vouchers be used in all transactions with a merchant who accepts the six SVFs designated by the Scheme?
6. Can consumption vouchers be used for online purchases (including non-local online purchases)?
7. Can consumption vouchers be used to meet expenses on public transport services covered by the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme? Will the relevant expenditure be excluded in the calculation of the subsidy?
8. What consequences will members of the public or merchants face if they knowingly violate the requirements of the Scheme?
9. Can a registrant who has received consumption vouchers through an Octopus card transfer the vouchers to his/her Octopus Wallet through the Octopus App and then use it as cash?
10. Can merchants refuse to accept consumption vouchers or impose surcharge on use of consumption vouchers?

Other reminders on usage

11. Can consumption vouchers be used to purchase goods or services by instalments?
12. Can a customer who has purchased goods with consumption vouchers return the goods or get a refund?
13. Further to the above question, can goods or services purchased with consumption vouchers be returned or a refund be arranged for such goods or services if the vouchers used for such purchases have expired?
14. Can consumption vouchers be used in conjunction with other promotional offers introduced by merchants or the SVF operators?

Using consumption vouchers through different SVF

15. How can one distinguish and use the consumption voucher in an Octopus card?
16. How can one use a consumption voucher in the five e-wallets? Can he/she decide whether to use a consumption voucher in making payment?
17. Do all mobile phones support the SVFs selected under the Scheme?

Handling of the loss, malfunctioning etc. of SVF account

Octopus

18. What should a registrant do if the Octopus card used for receiving consumption vouchers is lost?
19. What should a registrant do if the Octopus card used for receiving consumption vouchers is malfunctioned?
20. If a registrant needs to update his/her registration record due to the loss or malfunctioning of his/her Octopus card so as to use another Octopus card to receive the remaining consumption vouchers, can he/she recover the unspent amount in his/her original card in full (including the collected voucher)?
21. If a registrant wants to return the Octopus card that has been registered for the 2nd Instalment for a refund, can he/she get the consumption vouchers that are yet to be collected/disbursed through another Octopus card or SVF?
22. What should a registrant do if his/her Octopus card used for receiving consumption vouchers is a bank co-brand Octopus card which requires renewal?
23. If a registrant has got a replacement Octopus card because the card used for receiving 1st-instalment voucher is lost, malfunctioned or renewed, will the cumulative total 'eligible spending' be re-calculated for the purpose of receiving the 2nd-instalment voucher?

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

24. What should a registrant do if he/she has lost his/her phone/SIM card or fails to login the SVF account used for receiving consumption vouchers, or if the account concerned has become invalid?

Others

25. What should a registrant do if he/she discovers fraudulent use of the SVF account that he/she uses for receiving consumption vouchers?

G. Review and Appeal by Registrants

1. If a registrant (including existing and new registrants) receives a notification stating that he/she does not meet the eligibility criteria of the Scheme, can he/she apply for review? How may such an application be made?
2. What matters may a registrant or an agent request for a review?
3. What are the procedures for review? How long will it take?
4. What can an applicant do if he/she is not satisfied with the result of the review by the Secretariat?

H. Merchants

1. How can merchants benefit from the Scheme? Do they have to register with the Government before they can accept purchases made with consumption vouchers?
2. Can local merchants raise objections if they discover that consumption vouchers cannot be used at their outlets and/or online platforms?
3. Can merchants provide promotional offers in relation to consumption vouchers?
4. Can a merchant who only operates an online platform and has no physical outlet accept consumption vouchers?
5. What promotional offers will the SVFs operators provide to merchants under the Scheme?
6. Can a merchant discontinue the use of the relevant electronic payment systems installed after the Scheme has ended?

I. Assistance for Persons with Special Needs

1. How can mentally handicapped persons/persons in coma/mentally incapacitated persons register for the Scheme or amend registration records (if applicable) to receive consumption vouchers of the Scheme?
2. How can physically immobile persons (e.g. those who are disabled or bedridden) register for the Scheme or amend registration records (if applicable) to receive consumption vouchers?
3. How can holders of a Certificate of Exemption ("EC") register for the Scheme or amend registration records (if applicable) to receive consumption vouchers?
4. Can prisoners register for the Scheme or amend registration records (if applicable) to receive consumption vouchers?
5. Can those staying overseas temporarily or serving sentence abroad register for the Scheme or amend registration records (if applicable) to receive consumption vouchers?
6. How can recipients of the Portable Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme register for the Scheme or amend registration records (if applicable) to receive consumption vouchers?
7. What will the Government do to help those without smartphones (such as the elderly and the disadvantaged) register for the Scheme or amend registration records (if applicable) and use the consumption vouchers?

J. Protection of Personal Data

1. What personal data should a registrant provide to the Government under the CVS?
2. Will information provided by registrants under the Scheme be used for other purposes?
3. How can registrants update their data kept in the database after the registration period?
4. How can the Government ensure the security of the large amount of personal data collected under the CVS? How long will the data be retained?
5. How can the Government ensure that people's spending habits and whereabouts will not be monitored through the Scheme and that their privacy is protected?
6. How can the Government ensure that the personal data of registrants are protected by the SVF operators which help implementing the Scheme and the outsourced contractors responsible for handling the registration forms received?
7. What will the Government do to prevent culprits from impersonating staff members of the Secretariat or the contractors it engages and calling registrants to obtain information? How can people verify the authenticity of such calls?
8. What should people pay attention to if non-governmental organisations ("NGOs") or other persons offer to help them register for the Scheme?
9. What should non-governmental organisations ("NGOs") pay attention to when they help members of the public register for the Scheme?

K. Others

1. Do persons who are abroad for certain reasons during the registration period need to return to Hong Kong for registration and amendment of registration records (if applicable)?
2. Can bankrupts register for the Scheme?
3. Do bankrupts need to return the consumption vouchers received under the Scheme during the bankruptcy period to the Official Receiver's Office ("ORO") for paying off their debts?
4. Are the consumption vouchers received under the Scheme subject to tax?
5. For recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) and Old Age Living Allowance (OALA), will the consumption vouchers received under the Scheme be disregarded in the means tests of the CSSA and the OALA schemes?
6. For those who apply to the Housing Department (HD) for public rental housing or make declarations under the well-off tenant policy or in the income surveys, will the consumption vouchers received under the Scheme be disregarded when they make such applications/declarations?
7. Further to FAQs K5 and K6, a number of government assistance schemes are means-tested. Will the consumption vouchers received under the Scheme be disregarded in all these means tests?
8. Can the family members of an eligible person who has passed away before registration register for the Scheme and receive consumption vouchers on behalf of the deceased?
9. Can the family members of an eligible person who has passed away after registration receive consumption vouchers on behalf of the deceased? Should the consumption vouchers received be returned?