Hong Kong to offer more drop-in boxes for cash handout scheme in response to complaints over complicated application process
- Number of inquiry hotlines for the scheme has been increased to 60
- Officials are looking into providing additional locations for successful applicants without local bank accounts to collect and cash their allocation cheques
To make it easier to apply for and collect a government cash handout, Hong Kong authorities are offering more drop-in boxes for the scheme, following a public outcry over the procedure being too complicated.
The city’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau announced on Tuesday evening that the government would provide extra boxes at about 200 Housing Authority estate offices and 14 Home Affairs Department inquiry centres from Friday, when the scheme starts receiving applications for a cash handout of up to HK$4,000 (US$510).
Only 31 drop-in boxes were announced earlier.
The number of inquiry hotlines for the scheme has also been increased to 60. Officials are looking into providing additional locations for successful applicants without local bank accounts to collect and cash their allocation cheques.
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This is the second time the government has moved to improve the procedure following last Wednesday’s announcement that it would simplify the application process.