People To Get HK$10,000 Handouts Starting On Monday

The Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, on Sunday said more than four million people who have signed up for the government's HK$10,000 handout will start receiving their payments from Monday – two days earlier than scheduled.

In his blog, Chan said around 5.76 million people have registered for the payment so far, and the 4.3 million people who did so online last month will receive their money first.

Those who sign up electronically this month will get the payout around a week after registration, he said.

Chan said people who used paper forms to apply will receive their money either later this month, or in August.

In all, around seven million Hong Kong people aged 18 or above are eligible for the scheme which was rolled out as a measure to combat the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Chan expects the coming two months to be a "prime time" for restaurants and retailers, dismissing suggestions that most people would elect to hang on to the money.

He said the scheme will hopefully put people in a spending mood, as safety and stability is gradually being restored with the new security law.

The finance chief said he has already spent his HK$10,000 on lunchboxes for the elderly, and cookies for social enterprises.