The Liberal Party has called on the government to hand out HK$2,000 consumption vouchers to help local businesses, with the proposal, made as part of suggestions for the Policy Address on Wednesday, drawing support from lawmakers from other parties as well.
Party chairman Peter Shiu told an RTHK radio programme that locals heading to the mainland to spend holidays, changes in tourists’ consumption patterns and the popularity of cross-border e-commerce have all posed a challenge to the retail sector.
He said such vouchers should be more restrictive in their use compared to the ones distributed between 2021 and 2023.
“We hope the consumption vouchers would be restricted to physical stores in Hong Kong and that they wouldn’t be valid for online shopping,” he said.
“We should also follow Macau’s practice. In the past, holders could spend the vouchers any way they wanted. But in Macau, holders have to spend a minimum of HK$100 before they could use a HK$20 voucher.”
By doing so, Shiu said the vouchers can further increase sales.
The wholesale and retail sector legislator also suggested a flat price of HK$30 be charged for movie screening between Fridays and Sundays so that locals would choose to spend weekends in Hong Kong instead.
Lawmaker Lo Wai-kwok, who chairs the Business and Professionals Alliance, believes the public will welcome the distribution of consumption vouchers even if they can only use it upon meeting a minimum spend requirement.
However, DAB vice chairman and legislator Holden Chow said the vouchers should be handed out in the form of a lucky draw instead.
This way would not involve a huge outlay of public monies, he said, while offering sufficient incentive for people to spend.
Looking ahead, Chow believes the situation will improve because more companies are seeking listings in the SAR in the upcoming six months, which will then gradually drive the economy.
Randy Damron
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