Usage of Consumption Vouchers
(Unless otherwise specified, "Consumption Voucher Scheme" or "the Scheme" on this page refers to the 2023 Consumption Voucher Scheme 2nd Instalment.)
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 2nd-instalment consumption voucher ($2,000 or $1,000).
When people register for the Scheme (including the 2021 and 2022 Consumption Voucher Schemes), 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 appropriate follow-up actions, including terminating the stored value facility services provided to the merchants concerned. Besides, 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
Existing registrants (i.e. eligible registrants who were disbursed with the 1st-instalment voucher of $3,000 or $1,500 on 16 April)
AlipayHK, BoC Pay, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK
The 1st-instalment voucher disbursed on 16 April 2023 ($3,000 or $1,500) will expire on 31 October 2023, while the 2nd-instalment voucher disbursed on 16 July 2023 ($2,000 or $1,000) will expire on 29 February 2024. 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 an eligible existing registrant receive both the 1st-instalment and 2nd-instalment vouchers through Octopus and his/her cumulative total "eligible spending" has not reached the value of the 1st-instalment voucher disbursed on 16 April 2023 (i.e. $3,000 or $1,500) as at 31 October 2023, he/she will not be disbursed with the 2nd-instalment consumption voucher ($2,000 or $1,000).
New Registrants
AlipayHK, BoC Pay, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK
The first voucher disbursed on 16 July 2023 ($3,000 or $1,500) and the second voucher disbursed on 16 October 2023 ($2,000 or $1,000) will both expire on 29 February 2024. 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 a new eligible registrant has not reached the value of the first voucher disbursed on 16 July 2023 (i.e. $3,000 or $1,500) as at 31 January 2024, he/she will not be disbursed with the second voucher ($2,000 or $1,000).
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.