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Heading towards 5 million

The Consumption Voucher Scheme (the Scheme) has opened for registration for a week and has been well received by the public. About 4.8 million registrations have been received so far, among which about 80%, i.e. 3.9 million, are electronic registrations with their identity authenticated by providing information used in last year’s Cash Payout Scheme. Although there were hiccups for some people when registering through iAM Smart in the first two days, the problem had been fixed swiftly and the registration process had resumed normal. The electronic registration process in general takes only a few minutes and no queueing is required.

I continued to visit different districts these few days to chat with citizens and help them register for the Scheme.

Took a tram when visiting districts yesterday.

I continued to visit different districts these few days to chat with citizens and help them register for the Scheme. The registration process was very smooth. People were excited in talking about the Scheme – from registration procedures, offers by stored value facility (SVF) operators and merchants, to how they can maximise the value of the $5000 voucher. People also have different spending plans that suit their best needs. With this positive atmosphere, many merchants are expecting that the vouchers could give a boost to the consumption market and hence the overall economy.

During the visits, I answered some questions frequently raised by citizens -

a) I have received a reference number after completing the registration, but why I still haven’t received the SMS notification on the registration result?

After you submit the registration, you will first receive a SMS notification to confirm that the system has received your registration for further processing.

For electronic registration, people will receive the SMS notification on the registration result around one week after completing the registration.

For those submitting paper registration forms, they will receive the notification in around two weeks.

Due to the large number of applications, it takes time for the system to process. Please do not make duplicate registrations to avoid delaying the handling process.

b) I registered electronically and chose to authenticate my identity through uploading my ID card copy. Why can’t I upload the copy at the same time when I submit the electronic registration form? And I have already received a reference number for my registration, but why the system shows that there is no record of my registration when I try to upload the ID card copy?

If registrants choose to upload ID card copy for identity authentication, they can only do so, as instructed on the screen display, on the Scheme website 24 hours after submitting the electronic registration. The Government will send SMS notification on this to the mobile phone number provided by the registrants. This arrangement is to diverge the network traffic flow effectively so as to ensure the system could have enough capacity to handle the uploads.

Please note that your registration is not yet completed before the ID card copy is uploaded. If you try to make an earlier upload, the system will indicate that related registration record is not available. In fact, if you choose to upload your ID card copy for identity authentication, you only have to upload it after receiving the relevant SMS notification and the registration process can then be completely quickly.

c) The “residing in Hong Kong” requirement of the Scheme

Under the Scheme, to fulfil the “residing in Hong Kong” requirement, the registrant cannot be away from Hong Kong continuously during the 24–month period immediately before 18 June 2021. In other words, a registrant is eligible if he/she has been in Hong Kong for only one day during the said period.

For a registrant who has been absent from Hog Kong continuously during that period, he/she would still be considered eligible if it is due to specified reasons including studying abroad, performing overseas duties for a company, or recipients of assistance under the Fujian Scheme or GuangDong Scheme, etc.

The Government will conduct random checks on the “residing in Hong Kong” requirement. Some citizens may have received SMS sent from the designated telephone number 852 5567 3873 which asks them to provide documents to prove that they satisfy the said requirement. Such selected registrants can contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu via the number provided in the SMS, and provide the required documents through email, in person or by other appointed persons.

Many citizens told me that they have already registered for the Scheme, and the registration process was very smooth.

Apart from the above frequently asked questions, we also came across some special cases. For instance, some citizens failed to complete the registration after filling in the ID card information, since the card issue date entered was not the updated one shown in their newly replaced ID card. And there is another case that a citizen who had not yet registered was puzzled as she received SMS notification on receipt of registration, and was concerned if there is a leakage of her personal data. It turned out to be a false alarm after she learnt from her sister that her mobile phone number had been provided for communication purpose in their mother’s registration and hence the “unknown” SMS notification.

The Consumption Voucher Scheme is a new initiative involving over 7 million citizens and more than ten thousand of merchants. The registration system has to be convenient and secure at the same time, and the Scheme has to cater for large amount buying and encourage small amount consumption. It takes time for the people to understand the setting and the requirement of the system and the Scheme. My thanks go to the many community volunteers who assist fellow citizens in registration, together building a caring and helpful community.

The Scheme is entering its second week of registration. For electronic registrations completed on or before this Saturday, i.e. 17 July, verified registrants will received the first consumption voucher on 1 August.

For other electronic registrations submitted after the first two weeks and all paper form registrations, as long as they are completed on or before 14 August, verified registrants will receive the first consumption voucher on 1 September.

No matter how you register for the Scheme and when you will receive the electronic consumption vouchers, let us spend together to boost the economy, and use e-payment more frequently to promote digital economy.

July 11, 2021