Can the 2023 electronic consumption vouchers be used to purchase elderly rehabilitation products?
The 2023 Budget announced that the government would distribute electronic consumption vouchers worth $5,000 in two phases. On 16 April, citizens who had successfully registered for the 2022 consumption voucher scheme would first receive $3,000 in vouchers, followed by another $2,000 on 16 July.
View the electronic consumption voucher guide here for details on the distribution dates, usage methods, validity periods, usage restrictions, and participating merchants, as well as eligibility, registration methods, and the latest voucher offers.
2023 Electronic Consumption Voucher Guide Contents
- What are electronic consumption vouchers?
- Vouchers will be distributed in April in the first phase; collection methods
- What is an 'eligible expenditure'?
- Guidelines for using payment methods to receive vouchers
- Eligibility for the 2023 $5,000 consumption voucher
- What if I lose my Octopus card?
- Distribution method for the second phase of vouchers
What are electronic consumption vouchers?
【Latest News】On 10 March 2023, Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced the re-launch of the consumption voucher scheme worth $5,000 to stimulate local consumption.
Reference link: Official new round of consumption voucher scheme page
Latest news: HK$5,000 consumption vouchers in the Budget, available as early as April
Vouchers will be distributed in April in the first phase; collection methods
The $5,000 consumption voucher scheme will be launched in two phases. In the first phase, citizens who successfully registered for the 2022 consumption voucher scheme will first receive $3,000 in vouchers on 16 April, followed by another $2,000 on 16 July.
Note that citizens must use the same stored-value payment method used to register for the 2022 consumption voucher scheme to receive the vouchers and cannot switch payment methods at this stage. The following payment methods are listed:
- AlipayHK
- Tap & Go
- WeChat Pay HK
- AlipayHK
- PayMe
- BoC Pay
- Octopus
Collection method 1: via AlipayHK, Tap & Go, WeChat Pay HK, BoC Pay, PayMe
Citizens receiving vouchers via AlipayHK, Tap & Go, WeChat Pay HK, BoC Pay or PayMe accounts will receive the $5,000 in vouchers in two instalments.
- First instalment: $3,000 will be distributed to citizens who successfully registered for the 2022 consumption voucher scheme on 16 April.
- Second instalment: The remaining $2,000 will be distributed to the above citizens on 16 July.
If the stored-value payment method account used to receive the 2022 consumption vouchers is still valid and has not been lost, citizens do not need to register again.
| Voucher phase and amount | Voucher distribution date | Voucher validity period |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1・$3,000 | 16 April 2023 | Expires on 31 October 2023 |
| Phase 2・$2,000 | 16 July 2023 | Expires on 31 January 2024 |
Collection method 2: via Octopus
- After receiving the first instalment, if the total reaches $3,000 by 30 June, the second instalment of $2,000 can be received as early as 16 July.
- If the target is not met by 30 June, the second instalment will be delayed by one month, and so on. The first instalment also expires on 31 October, while the final date to receive the second instalment is 16 November.
| Octopus voucher phase and amount | Octopus voucher distribution date | Octopus voucher validity period |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1・$3,000 | 16 April 2023 | Expires on 31 October 2023 |
| Phase 2・$2,000 | 16 July 2023 | To be announced |
Vouchers will be credited to the relevant Octopus card as stored value, so there is no validity period. However, if the total amount of 'eligible expenditure' accumulated by the registrant from the date of receiving the first instalment of vouchers is less than HK$3,000, the second instalment of HK$2,000 vouchers will not be distributed.
- After receiving the first instalment, if the total reaches $3,000 by 30 June, the second instalment of $2,000 can be received as early as 16 July.
- If the target is not met by 30 June, the second instalment will be delayed by one month, and so on. The first instalment also expires on 31 October, while the final date to receive the second instalment is 16 November.
Date for receiving the second phase of $2,000 vouchers via Octopus
| Accumulated eligible expenditure of $3,000 | Date for receiving the second instalment of $2,000 vouchers |
|---|---|
| By 30 June 2023 | 16 July 2023 |
| By 30 July 2023 | 16 August 2023 |
| By 30 August 2023 | 16 September 2023 |
| By 30 September 2023 | 16 October 2023 |
| By 30 October 2023 | 16 November 2023 |
How to check the accumulated total of 'eligible expenditure' on Octopus
- Octopus mobile app
- Octopus website
- Octopus customer service hotline: 2969 5500
What is an 'eligible expenditure'?
The government lists transaction categories for which consumption vouchers are not applicable on the official consumption voucher website. Octopus will not include these transactions in the accumulated total of 'eligible expenditure'.
Voucher-eligible merchants, categories and restrictions
According to government information, the above payment methods cover 30,000 to 100,000 local retail, catering and service merchants. Citizens can use consumption vouchers at local physical stores or online stores, including retail, catering, and service businesses, and online stores with a valid business registration. However, they are not applicable to overseas consumption, online stores without business registration, payment of utility bills or taxes, purchase of financial products, transfers, and other uses.
| Eligible merchants | Ineligible merchants |
|---|---|
|
|
Guidelines for using payment methods to receive vouchers
| Payment method | Usage guidelines |
|---|---|
| AlipayHK | To be updated |
| Octopus | Vouchers and balance are not separated, but Octopus can determine whether a transaction at a voucher-eligible merchant is within the scope of the consumption vouchers; if the amount used at a non-voucher-eligible merchant, the user must top up the balance themselves |
| Tap & Go | The user's stored value and voucher amount will be handled separately |
| WeChat Pay HK | To be updated |
Everyone can choose their preferred or most suitable payment method to receive and use the consumption vouchers. To prevent impersonation or identity theft, each Octopus card or personal e-wallet can only be registered once and cannot be reused.
Eligibility for the 2023 $5,000 consumption voucher
| Eligible persons for consumption vouchers | Three categories of ineligible persons |
|---|---|
|
|
Can recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance apply?
Regardless of whether they have applied for or are receiving other allowances or assistance, they can apply.
$5,000 consumption voucher registration method
Citizens who received vouchers last year do not need to register again.
How to update payment method accounts? What if I lose my Octopus card? 2023 consumption voucher re-registration arrangements
The first instalment cannot be transferred to another payment platform. If a citizen confirms that the stored-value payment method account used to register for the 2022 consumption voucher scheme has expired, or if they have lost or returned the Octopus card registered for the 2022 consumption voucher scheme and therefore cannot receive the new round of consumption vouchers through the relevant account, they must update their records through the following channels by 29 March 2023:
- Complete a written form and mail it with a copy of a valid Hong Kong identity card to 'Secretariat of the Consumption Voucher Scheme, P.O. Box 185000, General Post Office, Hong Kong'.
- Change their registration record through the designated website (Register here), and the old Octopus card will be cancelled.
- Re-register for consumption vouchers in person
Re-registering for consumption vouchers in person
Citizens can call the hotline 185000 to make an appointment between 10 and 29 March 2023 and complete the formalities at the Temporary Service Centre for the Consumption Voucher Scheme. Opening hours are: Monday to Friday 9 am to 6 pm, Saturday 9 am to 1 pm, and closed on Sundays and public holidays.
| Region | Address of Temporary Service Centre for the Consumption Voucher Scheme |
|---|---|
| Kowloon |
Room 1834-1838, 18/F, Start-up Centre, 750 Nathan Road, Mong Kok
Room 1105, 11/F, Kwun Tin Centre, 410 Kwun Tin Road, Kwun Tong |
| New Territories |
9/F, Tsuen Wan Plaza, 455 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan
Room 1102, 1/F, Butterfly Bay Community Centre, 1 Ho Chui Road, Tuen Mun 23/F, New Town Plaza, 2 Ho Man Tin Road, Sha Tin |
| Hong Kong Island |
34/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai
Room 1301, 13/F, Pak Ka Shing Centre, 180 Electric Road, North Point |
Distribution method for the second phase of vouchers
Registered citizens can change the payment method used to receive the second instalment of vouchers, which will be distributed mid-year. As for newly eligible registered citizens, they will receive HK$2,000 in vouchers directly in the second round after successful registration.
