Govt Urged To Streamline Cash Handout Procedures

Lawmaker Au Nok-hin has called on the government to streamline the application procedures for cash handouts announced by financial secretary last year.

Under the Caring and Sharing Scheme, those who did not benefit from Financial Secretary Paul Chan's HK$52.4 billion relief package in the last budget will be eligible to receive HK$4,000. The government expects around 2.8 million people to benefit.

Application forms for this handout were made available from Monday and the government will accept applications from February 1.

But Au said the procedures involved are too complicated and some may find it difficult to supply all the papers demanded.

He said that some retirees may not even have a bank account to obtain the funds.

Au also said the complicated calculations required may lead to people mistakenly filing incorrect claims, putting them at risk of facing criminal proceedings.