FAQs

On or before 31 March 2021 ^{[Note 1]}, the registrant should be aged 18 or above and is a Hong Kong permanent resident^{[Note 2]} holding:

1. a valid Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card (HKPIC), i.e. a smart HKPIC issued on or after 23 June 2003 (click here for a sample); or
2. a Certificate of Exemption (EC) issued by the Commissioner of Registration under the Registration of Persons Regulations, Cap. 177A.

Note 1: For those who register on or before 31 March 2021, they should meet both criteria in respect of the age and permanent residency with the documentary proof stated in (a) or (b) at the time of registration. For others, they are required to meet both criteria as at 31 March 2021.

Note 2: A registrant is also considered fulfilling the criterion in respect of the documentary proof on permanent residency if he/she -

1. is eligible for attaining the Hong Kong permanent resident status on or before 31 March 2021; and
2. has submitted an application for “Verification of Eligibility for Permanent Identity Card” (VEPIC) to the Immigration Department on or before 30 September 2021; and
3. has submitted an application for HKPIC or EC to the Immigration Department upon approval of the VEPIC application referred to in item (ii) above and has the application approved on or before 31 December 2021.]

Eligible persons must register for the Scheme in order to receive payment. If an eligible person has passed away before registration, he/she will not receive any payment.

Payment will be effected to a person who has registered before passing away and has been confirmed to have met the eligibility criteria of the Scheme. The sum will be treated as part of his/her estate (please refer to Question 86 for details about claiming payment).

A valid HKPIC refers to a smart HKPIC issued on or after 23 June 2003 (click here for a sample). Under the Registration of Persons (Invalidation of Identity Cards) Order (Cap. 177 sub. leg.), all identity cards issued before that date have become invalid. For details on the HKPIC, please visit the Immigration Department’s website (www.immd.gov.hk) or call its enquiry hotline 2824 6111.

Under the Registration of Persons (Invalidation of Identity Cards) Order (Cap. 177 sub. leg.), all identity cards issued before 23 June 2003 (i.e. old identity cards) have become invalid. Holders of an old HKPIC will fulfill the requirement in respect of the identification documentary proof under the Scheme if they apply for replacement of their identity cards at any Registration of Persons Offices on or before 31 March 2021, and have their applications for a smart Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card approved on or before that date. For details on replacement of identity cards, please visit the Immigration Department’s website (www.immd.gov.hk) or call its enquiry hotline 2824 6111.

Holders of an old HKPIC may call the Scheme hotline 182020 if they have any questions concerning the aforementioned arrangement.

Any person who is aged 18 or above on or before 31 March 2021 and holds a valid Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card, whether it is an adult or juvenile identity card, is eligible for payment under the Scheme.

A person is considered fulfilling the eligibility criteria of the Scheme if he/she:

1. is aged 18 or above on or before 31 March 2021, and
2. (i) is eligible for attaining the Hong Kong permanent resident status on or before 31 March 2021;
   (ii) has submitted an application for VEPIC to the Immigration Department on or before 30 September 2021; and
   (iii) has submitted an application for HKPIC or Certificate of Exemption to the Immigration Department upon approval of the VEPIC application referred to in item (ii) above and has the application approved on or before 31 December 2021.

A holder of a valid HKPIC who is aged 18 or above on or before 31 March 2021 is eligible for payment under the Scheme. Losing the HKPIC does not affect his/her eligibility under the Scheme.

Under the Registration of Persons Ordinance (Cap. 177) and the Registration of Persons Regulations (Cap. 177A) of the Laws of Hong Kong, only residents in Hong Kong aged 11 or above are required to register for a Hong Kong Identity Card. The aged, the blind or the infirm who satisfy a registration officer that their personal attendance for registration of a Hong Kong Identity Card in compliance with the law will injure their health or the health of others may apply to the Immigration Department for an EC. Persons not residing in Hong Kong are not required to register for a Hong Kong Identity Card or an EC under the law. For details on the EC, please visit the Immigration Department’s website (https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/hkid/appforcert.html) or call its enquiry hotline 2824 6111.

Hong Kong permanent residents holding an EC who are aged 18 or above on or before 31 March 2021 are eligible for payment under the Scheme.

If such persons have the Hong Kong permanent resident status, aged 18 or above on or before 31 March 2021 and hold a valid smart HKPIC or EC issued on or before 31 March 2021, they meet the eligibility criteria of the Scheme.

Holders of an old HKPIC may call the Scheme hotline 182020 if they have any questions concerning the aforementioned arrangement.

Eligible persons have to register for the Scheme to enable the verification of their eligibility and to select the means of payment. Those who wish to receive payment through their sole-name bank accounts or by cheque may register through the participating banks or the Hongkong Post respectively from 21 June 2020 to 31 December 2021 (please refer to Question 21 on the list of participating banks). Each eligible person may only register once for the Scheme. Eligible persons are not required to queue up to submit registrations. They are encouraged to submit e registrations through banks, which is faster and more convenient, as far as possible.

Eligible persons who do not have a local Hong Kong dollar bank account in their sole name may register and collect a cheque through the Hongkong Post.

The registration period for the Scheme is from 21 June 2020 to 31 December 2021.

Starting from 21 June 2020, eligible persons may choose to register through banks or the Hongkong Post to receive payment of $10,000 by direct transfer to their sole-name bank accounts or by cheque respectively. The registration arrangement and payment schedule are as follows:

Registrants simply need to have a local sole-name Hong Kong dollar savings/current bank account to make e-registration or submit paper registration through the participating banks within the registration period.

>E-registration through internet banking (including webpages and mobile apps) or the websites of banks

Upon verification, payment will normally be deposited into the bank account specified by the registrant about one week after successful registration. As more registrants are anticipated at the beginning of the registration period, in order to avoid a large number of persons registering at the same time and hence affect the operation of the system and hold up the entire process, payment in respect of the e-registrations received in the first ten days of registration (i.e. from 21 June to 30 June 2020) will be deposited simultaneously into the bank account specified by the registrants starting from 6 July. In other words, persons who register in the first ten days will not receive payment sooner because of early registration.

>Submission of registration form by post or through banks

The first six weeks of registration for the Cash Payout Scheme (i.e. from 21 June to 1 August 2020) is the registration commencement period under batching arrangement for paper form. Eligible persons who choose to register using paper forms should follow the batching arrangement by year of birth as set out below:

Registrants may mail the form to GPO Box 182020, Hong Kong or return the form to any branches of the bank which account has been specified for receiving payment. The registration commencement period for each batch is two weeks. Payment will be deposited into the bank account specified by a registrant about two weeks after the end of the registration commencement period for the batch he/she is in (e.g. the registration commencement period for Batch 1 is from 21 June to 4 July 2020). Registrants will not receive payment sooner by making registration earlier. An eligible person who has not submitted paper form registration during the registration commencement period of the batch he/she belongs may submit registration form at any time on or before 31 December 2021. Payment will be made about two weeks after successful registration.

Registrants may visit the Hongkong Post’s website and complete an e-registration form or submit a paper registration form to receive an order cheque. Eligible registrants who choose to submit paper registration forms by post to GPO Box 182020, Hong Kong or through drop-boxes at post offices in the first six weeks of the registration period should also follow the batching arrangement by year of birth as set out below:

The registration commencement period for each batch is two weeks. Together with e-registration form which registrants may also opt to submit through the Hongkong Post’s website at any time after the commencement of registration for the Scheme, registrants will be notified about two weeks after the end of the registration commencement period for paper form of the batch he/she belongs (e.g. the registration commencement period for Batch 1 is from 21 June to 4 July 2020) to collect an order cheque in person at the selected post office. Registrants will not receive payment sooner by making registration earlier. If the registrants submit paper or electronic registration form after his/her respective registration commencement period or after the first 6 weeks of the registration commencement period under batching arrangement for paper form (i.e. after 1 August 2020), Hongkong Post will notify the registrant to collect the cheque in person at the designated post office about 2 weeks after successful registration. The registration period ends on 31 December 2021.

The registration period for the Scheme is from 21 June 2020 to 31 December 2021.

Eligible persons may register electronically through banks or submit e-registration forms through the Hongkong Post’s website at any time on or before 31 December 2021. Those who have not registered using paper forms during the batching period at the initial stage of registration, regardless of their year of birth, may register at any time on or before 31 December 2021.

We encourage members of the public to register for the Scheme electronically through internet banking or the websites of banks as far as possible. E-registration is efficient and convenient and, unlike registration in paper form, no batching arrangements by year of birth will be adopted at the initial stage of registration.

Eligible persons who submit paper registration forms may send their completed forms by post to GPO Box 182020, Hong Kong starting from the first day of the registration period for the batch they are in.

To facilitate eligible persons who choose to submit paper registration forms on the commencement date of the Scheme (i.e. 21 June 2020 (Sunday)), about 1 000 branches of the 20 participating banks (excluding the participating virtual bank) and all post offices (excluding mobile post offices) will make special arrangements for the collection of registration forms. Eligible registrants who were born in or before 1955 may put their completed registration forms in the drop-box at any local branches of the banks specified for receiving payment or post offices (excluding mobile post offices). Please note it is not necessary for registrants to queue up to submit registration forms.

Registration forms may be downloaded from the websites of the participating retail banks (except the virtual bank) (form for registration through banks only), website of Hongkong Post (form for registration through Hongkong Post only) and the Scheme’s website. They are also obtainable from:

1. branches of the participating banks (except the virtual bank) (form for registration through banks only);
2. post offices (except mobile post offices) (form for registration through the Hongkong Post only);
3. Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department;
4. District Social Welfare Offices of the Social Welfare Department; and
5. Public Housing Estate Offices and Customer Service Centre of the Hong Kong Housing Authority.

Eligible persons who wish to register through the Hongkong Post and collect an order cheque may submit an e-registration form online through the Hongkong Post’s website.

Each eligible person may only register once for the Scheme, whether by e-registration or submission of a registration form. If the registration form submitted by a person is being processed/has been processed by the Government, all other registration received from the same person afterwards will be regarded as duplicate registration. Notifications will be sent to the registrants concerned through SMS or by post, informing them that their duplicate registration will not be processed.

If a registrant discovers that he/she has inadvertently provided incorrect information on the registration form after submission, he/she should contact the bank concerned or the Hongkong Post (depending on the means of registration used) to enquire about the progress of his/her registration. Depending on the importance of the information, staff of the bank or the Hongkong Post may void the previous registration and ask the registrant to re-register.

In addition, if a bank or the Hongkong Post discovers that the information provided by a registrant is incorrect or incomplete, depending on the importance of the information, its staff may void the previous registration and ask the registrant to re-register.

Please note that, in order to protect the personal data of registrants and prevent fraudulent acts, staff of the banks and the Hongkong Post are not allowed to amend the information provided on the registration form on behalf of the registrants except for non-personal data (i.e. the code of the post office for cheque collection). Neither will they call the registrants to obtain information relating to the registration, including but not limited to bank account number, identity card information and address. The Hongkong Post will only call registrants using the designated telephone number 2908 0070.

To avoid confusion and delay, a registrant should not re-register unless and until his/her previous registration has been voided.

After registration through a bank or the Hongkong Post, the registrant will receive an acknowledgement of registration from the bank concerned or the Hongkong Post through SMS (or by email/post). Registrants who register electronically through their internet banking account or submit an e-registration form through the Hongkong Post’s website will receive an acknowledgement immediately after completion of the registration procedures, whereas those who register electronically through the websites of banks will receive the acknowledgement within two business days. Registrants who submit a paper registration form will receive an acknowledgement after their registration information has been successfully input into the Government’s registration system.

Eligible persons who have a local Hong Kong dollar savings or current bank account in their sole name with one of the 21 participating retail banks may register through that bank and receive payment through a specified account. For the list of participating banks, please refer to Question 21.

>E-registration through internet banking (including webpages and mobile apps) or the websites of banks

Registration can be made through the following means:

1. internet banking (including webpages and mobile apps) provided by the bank specified for receiving payment; or
2. registration system in the website of the bank specified for receiving payment.

Persons who choose to register through internet banking (including webpages and mobile apps) only have to, after logging in, select a bank account for receiving payment, provide a local contact telephone number (preferably an SMS-enabled local mobile phone number for receiving notifications from the bank concerned regarding the Scheme), and tick the box to accept the relevant terms and conditions. For those who choose to register through the websites of the banks, they simply have to provide some basic information, including the first four alphanumeric characters of their Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card (“HKPIC”) number, a local contact telephone number (preferably an SMS-enabled local mobile phone number) and a bank account number for receiving payment, and tick the box to accept the relevant terms and conditions. The banks concerned will verify the identity of their clients by sending notifications to them within 2 business days based on the contact information kept by the banks.

>Submission of registration form by post or through banks

Registration forms may be downloaded from the Scheme’s dedicated webpage or the websites of the participating retail banks (excluding the virtual bank). They are also obtainable from the bank branches, Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department, District Social Welfare Offices of the Social Welfare Department, and Public Housing Estate Offices and Customer Service Centre of the Hong Kong Housing Authority.

Registrants only have to provide the required information, including name, HKPIC number, local contact telephone number (preferably an SMS-enabled local mobile phone number), name of the bank and the bank account number for receiving payment, on the form and sign it. Completed registration forms should be submitted through the following means:

1. sending the form by post to GPO Box 182020, Hong Kong (please state the name of the bank specified for receiving payment on the envelope to facilitate processing; no postage stamp is required if posted in Hong Kong); or
2. returning the form to any branches of the bank specified for receiving payment.

Payment will be directly deposited into the bank account specified by the registrants confirmed to have met the eligibility criteria.

Eligible persons who have a local Hong Kong dollar savings or current bank account in their sole name with one of the 21 participating retail banks may register through that bank and receive payment through a specified account. The 21 participating retail banks (in alphabetical order) are:

1. Bank of China (Hong Kong)
2. Bank of Communications (Hong Kong)
3. Bank of East Asia
4. China CITIC Bank International
5. China Construction Bank (Asia)
6. Chiyu Banking Corporation
7. Chong Hing Bank
8. Citibank (Hong Kong)
9. CMB Wing Lung Bank
10. Dah Sing Bank
11. DBS Bank (Hong Kong)
12. Fubon Bank
13. Hang Seng Bank
14. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
15. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia)
16. Nanyang Commercial Bank
17. OCBC Wing Hang Bank
18. Public Bank (Hong Kong)
19. Shanghai Commercial Bank
20. Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong)
21. ZA Bank (Note: This is a virtual bank which only provides an e-banking mobile app for registration.)

The participating banks will provide their clients with different electronic platforms for registration. Details are as follows:

The registrants have to sign on the paper forms and we do not accept submission of registration forms by fax, or scanned copies of the forms by email. To facilitate members of the public, the paper forms provided in the website for download are fillable online. That said, the registrants have to print out the completed forms, sign them and send them by post to GPO Box 182020, Hong Kong or return them to any branches of the bank specified for receiving payment.

Registrants should provide a local contact telephone number (preferably an SMS-enabled local mobile phone number for receiving notifications from the bank concerned regarding the Scheme) on the registration form as far as possible. Registrants who do not have a local contact telephone number may consider providing a local contact telephone number of their relatives or friends, so as to facilitate communication with the Government or the bank concerned when necessary, such as receiving acknowledgements of registration and notifications of successful payment or unsuccessful registration. The Government or the banks concerned will contact the registrants based on the information given on the forms or the contact details (e.g. email or postal address) kept by the banks when necessary if no local contact telephone number has been provided.

There is no restriction on the format for signing the registration form. Registrants may affix a seal or their fingerprints on the form as signatures.

After receiving the registration form, staff of the post office concerned will pass the registration form to the relevant bank for processing. No re-submission is required.

We will arrange for the registration form to be passed to Bank A for processing. To avoid delay, registrants are reminded to submit the registration form to the bank they have specified for receiving payment.

Registrants do not need to pay the banks any fees for registration and receiving payment under the Scheme.

The bank account for receiving payment must be a local Hong Kong dollar bank account in the sole name of the registrant. It can be a savings or current account, but not a credit card account.

No. To avoid dispute and prevent fraudulent acts, joint accounts cannot be used for registration and receiving payment.

As banks will verify whether a registrant is the holder of a particular account based on his/her Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card (“HKPIC”) number, the Scheme only accepts local Hong Kong dollar bank accounts opened with a HKPIC for receiving payment. Eligible persons holding a local Hong Kong dollar bank account opened with a passport may contact the bank concerned to check if they can update the record of their identity document used for opening the account.

No. Non-local bank accounts cannot be used for registration and receiving payment as they do not operate under the local banking network, making it difficult for us to verify the particulars of these accounts.

No. Accounts opened with overseas (or Mainland) branches of the participating banks cannot be used for registration and receiving payment as they do not operate under the local banking network, making it difficult for us to verify the particulars of these accounts.

No. Offshore bank accounts cannot be used for registration and receiving payment as they do not operate under the local banking network.

Specific requirements vary among banks. In general, to open a bank account, members of the public may a visit bank branch in person or make use of the remote account opening services offered by some banks. They can submit or upload identity documents, instant selfies (for remote account opening) and other relevant information required by the banks under different circumstances. For details, please contact the banks concerned or visit the Smart Consumers webpage of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority at https://www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/smart-consumers/account-opening/contact-details-of-banks.

The entry for the payment made under the Scheme will be marked with “HKSARG$10000” in bank statements. For bank passbooks, the entry for the payment will be marked with “HKSARG$10000”, “HKSARG” or “HKG”, depending on the printing formats adopted by individual banks.

Eligible persons may submit electronic forms online through the Hongkong Post’s website. They may also download paper registration forms from the Scheme’s webpage, Hongkong Post’s webpage or obtain the forms from post offices, Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department, District Social Welfare Offices of the Social Welfare Department, and Public Housing Estate Offices and Customer Service Centre of the Hong Kong Housing Authority.

Members of the public only have to provide the required information, including name, Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card number, local contact telephone number (preferably an SMS-enabled local mobile phone number for receiving notifications from the Hongkong Post regarding the Scheme), local correspondence address and the post office selected for cheque collection, on the registration form and sign it. Completed paper registration forms should be submitted through the following means:

1. putting the form in the drop-box at any post office (excluding mobile post offices); or
2. sending the form by post to GPO Box 182020, Hong Kong (no postage stamp is required if posted in Hong Kong).

Registrants who submit registration forms and are confirmed to have met the eligibility criteria will receive, through SMS or by post, notifications of cheque collection at selected post offices. The cheque collected can be encashed at more than 160 designated local branches of the Bank of China (Hong Kong) (click here for the list of designated branches). Registrants must collect and encash the cheque in person and produce their identity card for verification.

Eligible persons may submit electronic registration forms through the Hongkong Post’s website starting from the first day of registration for Cash Payout Scheme until 31 December 2021. They do not need to follow any batching arrangement for registration.

No. In the first 6 weeks of the registration period (i.e. on or before 1 August 2020), for those who submit electronic forms through the Hongkong Post’s website, payment will be processed as in the case of registration in paper form under the batching arrangement by year of birth, i.e. notification for cheque collection from Hongkong Post will be received two weeks after the end of the registration period for the batch the registrants belongs. Hongkong Post will issue notification for cheque collection about two weeks after registration and verification for electronic registration form received after the first 6 weeks (i.e. after 1 August 2020).

Yes. However, for those who have a local Hong Kong dollar savings or current bank account in their sole name with any of the 21 participating retail banks, it will be more convenient for them to register and receive payment through banks. Payment will be effected faster for electronic registration, as compared with submission of registration forms. This will also save the registrants the effort to collect cheques from post offices and encash them at the Bank of China (Hong Kong) in person.

The registrants have to sign on the paper forms and we do not accept submission of registration forms by fax, or scanned copies of the forms by email. To facilitate members of the public, the paper forms provided in the website for download are fillable online. That said, the registrants have to print out the completed forms, sign them and send them by post to GPO Box 182020, Hong Kong or put them in the drop-box at any post office. Eligible persons may also complete and submit electronic registration forms through the Hongkong Post's website.

Registrants should provide a local contact telephone number (preferably an SMS-enabled local mobile phone number for receiving notifications from the Hongkong Post regarding the Scheme) on the registration form as far as possible. Registrants who do not have a local contact telephone number may consider providing a local contact telephone number of their relative or friend, so as to facilitate communication with the Hongkong Post when necessary, such as receiving acknowledgements of registration and notifications of cheque collection or unsuccessful registration. The Hongkong Post will contact the registrants by post based on the correspondence addresses (including overseas or Mainland addresses) given on the forms if no local contact telephone number has been provided.

There is no restriction on the format for signing the registration form. Registrants may affix a seal or their fingerprints on the form as signatures.

The participating bank will pass the registration form submitted by mistake to the Hongkong Post for processing.

Registrants do not need to pay the Hongkong Post or the BOC(HK) any fees for registration and receiving payment under Cash Payout Scheme.

If Hongkong Post finds that the code of the post office for collecting the cheque on the registration form is incorrect or incomplete, it will contact the registrant to clarify and amend the relevant information.

A registrant may also request to change the code of post office for cheque collection by calling the Hongkong Post hotline at 2908 0080. Hongkong Post can only process such requests with registrations made by paper forms and the registration information has not yet been entered into the system. Hongkong Post will not accept requests for changing the location if the registration information has already been entered into the system (including registrations made by electronic registration forms).

Registrants must go to the post office and sign to acknowledge receipt of the cheque in person. They have to produce their identity card and the notification of cheque collection issued by the Hongkong Post for verification. Registrants cannot authorise another person to collect the cheque for them.

No. Registrants must go to the post office and sign to acknowledge receipt of the cheque in person. They have to produce their identity card and the notification of cheque collection issued by the Hongkong Post for verification. Registrants cannot authorise another person to collect the cheque for them.

The cheque to be issued by the Government under Cash Payout Scheme is an “order cheque”. An “order cheque” can only be encashed by the payee stated on the cheque (and not the bearer), thus offering more protection to registrants.

Such cheque is not a crossed cheque which must be deposited into a bank account. Registrants may encash the cheque at more than 160 designated local branches of the Bank of China (Hong Kong) (click here for the list of designated branches).

Yes. To prevent fraudulent acts and protect the interests of registrants, we need to ensure that the person collecting the cheque is the same person who has registered for the Scheme. When collecting the cheque at a post office, a registrant should produce his/her latest Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card (“HKPIC”) issued by the Immigration Department so that staff of the post office can check the information on the identity card against the relevant record. Should the HKPIC produced during cheque collection is not the latest one issued to him/her by the Immigration Department (e.g. the identity card produced has been reported lost or has ceased to be valid), the post office will not give the cheque to that person as his/her identity cannot be verified.

After collecting their cheques from post offices, registrants should encash them at the Bank of China (Hong Kong) or deposit them into their bank accounts within six months from the date of issuance (i.e. within the validity period).

Registrants eligible for the payment should collect their cheques from post offices within the period specified on the notification of cheque collection (i.e. within four months). If the registrant fails to collect the cheque within 6 months from its date, a new cheque (“re-issued cheque”) will be issued automatically and be available for collection at the same post office. If the registrant still fails to collect the re-issued cheque within 6 months from its date, or despite having collected it, fails to encash it or deposit it with a bank before it becomes stale, he/she will be deemed to have forfeited his/her right to receive payment under the Cash Payout Scheme.

The cheques will be valid for six months from the date of issuance. If the cheques have not been collected within six months after their first issuance, the Hongkong Post will arrange for the issue of new cheques to replace the stale ones and notify the registrants concerned that new cheques have been issued for collection.

If the registrant fails to collect the cheque within 6 months from its date, a new cheque (“re-issued cheque”) will be issued automatically and be available for collection at the same post office. If the registrant still fails to collect the re-issued cheque within 6 months from its date, or despite having collected it, fails to encash it or deposit it with a bank before it becomes stale, he/she will be deemed to have forfeited his/her right to receive payment under the Cash Payout Scheme.

Yes. A registrant who has lost the cheque may call the Cash Payout Scheme Secretariat (telephone no.: 3106 0740) for a replacement. After confirming that the lost cheque has not been encashed, we will void the cheque and arrange to issue a replacement.

It is not necessary for a registrant to report the loss of the notification of cheque collection or apply for a replacement. A registrant who has lost the notification should go to the specified post office to collect the cheque with his/her Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card. However, as the registrant will not be able to produce the notification when collecting the cheque, the post office may need a longer time to verify the identity of the person collecting the cheque and to search for relevant records, which may result in longer waiting time at the post office.

Registrants may go to any designated local branch of the Bank of China (Hong Kong) (click here for the list of designated branches) and produce their Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card for verification to encash their cheques. No service charge is required.

As the cheques are issued by the Bank of China (Hong Kong) (“BOC(HK)”), it can only be encashed at any one of the designated local branches of the BOC(HK) (click here for the list of branches).

No. As the cheques are issued by the BOC(HK), it can only be encashed at a local branch of the BOC(HK).

No. As the cheque issued is an “order cheque”, only the payee stated on the cheque (but not the bearer) can encash the cheque. As such, the registrant has to encash it in person at the Bank of China (Hong Kong). This arrangement can provide more protection to the registrants receiving the cheque.

Information including the name of the registrant and his/her partially masked identity card number will be printed on the cheque for verification of identity by staff of bank.

The cheque can be deposited into a sole-name or joint account. For those who have a local Hong Kong dollar savings or current bank account in their sole-name with any of the 21 participating retail banks, it will be more convenient for them to register through banks and receive payment by direct transfer to their specified individual accounts. Payment will be effected faster for e-registration through banks. This will also save the procedure of collecting cheques from post offices in person.

Yes. For those who have a local Hong Kong dollar savings or current bank account in their sole-name with any of the 21 participating retail banks, it will be more convenient for them to register through banks and receive payment by direct transfer to their specified personal accounts. Payment will be effected faster for e-registration through banks. This will also save the procedure of collecting cheques from post offices in person.

Yes. However, depositing the cheque into an overseas (or Mainland) bank account may result in longer clearance time and incur additional handling fees. Registrants should contact the relevant banks for details concerning the procedures and handling fees involved.

The Government will make special arrangements for eligible persons who are mentally incapacitated or mentally unfit to make a statement and thus unable to go through the registration process.

If such persons are receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) or Social Security Allowance (SSA) payments and belong to the following categories:

1. mentally incapacitated persons as defined in the Mental Health Ordinance in the guardianship of legal guardians; or
2. those who currently rely on an appointee system to receive CSSA or SSA payments,

their legal guardians or appointees may register and receive payment under the Scheme on their behalf. The Social Welfare Department will send specific letters to these guardians or appointees by post. They only need to sign the letter and mail back to GPO Box 180000, Hong Kong. After the eligibility of the mentally incapacitated persons is confirmed, the guardians or appointees will receive payment on their behalf through the bank accounts used for receiving CSSA and SSA for the mentally incapacitated persons.

As for mentally incapacitated persons who do not fall into the above two categories, their relatives may, in the light of actual circumstances and needs, register and receive payment under the Scheme on their behalf as agents. To protect privacy and prevent abuse or fraudulent acts, the agent must register in person at the Cash Payout Scheme Secretariat (address: 17/F, Pioneer Centre, 750 Nathan Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon) and submit the following documents for verification by the Secretariat:

1. a copy of the Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or Certificate of Exemption of the mentally incapacitated person;
2. the original and a copy of the Hong Kong Identity Card of the agent;
3. the original and a copy of documentary proof of the relationship between the mentally incapacitated person and the agent (e.g. marriage certificate or birth certificate);
4. documentary proof certifying that the person concerned is mentally incapacitated and unfit to go through the registration process of the Scheme, such as:
   • medical certificate issued by a local registered medical practitioner (the Cash Payout Scheme Secretariat will also, in the light of the circumstances of individual cases, consider accepting other supporting documents, including medical certificate issued by an overseas or Mainland registered medical practitioner). For medical certificates, only those issued within one year before the commencement date of the Scheme (i.e. 21 June 2020) will be considered valid (except for persons who are permanently mentally incapacitated)
   • guardianship order issued by the Guardianship Board
   • court order stating that the person concerned is incapable of managing his/her property and affairs by reason of mental incapacity
   • record of residence in a local mental hospital (e.g. discharge slip/follow-up card or bill for hospital fee)
5. the original of the bank statement or passbook of the agent’s sole-name local Hong Kong dollar savings or current account (i.e. page(s) showing the name of the agent and the bank account number), if payment is to be made by direct bank transfer;
6. proof of the agent’s current address in Hong Kong (e.g. water bill or bank statement of the recent three months); and
7. a specified registration form (Form 5) duly completed and signed.

The agent must undertake that the sum disbursed to the registrant (i.e. the mentally incapacitated person) by the Government under the Scheme will be administered and spent for the benefit of the registrant. The agent must also undertake to notify the Government forthwith of any overpayment received on behalf of the registrant under the Scheme and return the amount certified by the Government as overpayment, as well as indemnify the Government against all possible claims from other parties in relation to the payment that he/she has received on behalf of the registrant under the Scheme.

The agent may choose to receive payment on behalf of the mentally incapacitated person by direct bank transfer or collecting an order cheque.

The agent may access the Scheme’s webpage, call 182020 or visit the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department to download or obtain the specified registration form (Form 5) and contact the Cash Payout Scheme Secretariat during office hours for an appointment to complete the registration procedures (telephone no.: 31060740).

If eligible persons, who are physically immobile, have a local Hong Kong dollar savings or current bank account in their sole-name with any of the 21 retail banks participating in the Scheme, they may register through banks and receive payment by direct transfer to their specified individual accounts, similar to other eligible persons.

If these persons do not have bank accounts and are unable to collect cheques from post offices in person due to their physical immobility, they may authorise another person (not necessarily a relative of the registrants) to register and receive payment on their behalf as their agent. To protect privacy and prevent abuse or fraudulent acts, the agent must register in person at the Cash Payout Scheme Secretariat (address: 17/F, Pioneer Centre, 750 Nathan Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon) and submit the following documents for verification by the Secretariat:

1. copy of the Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or Certificate of Exemption of the physically immobile person;
2. original and copy of the Hong Kong Identity Card of the agent;
3. documentary proof certifying that the person concerned is physically immobile and unable to collect the cheque issued under the Scheme in person (e.g. the original and a copy of medical certificate issued by a local registered medical practitioner; the Cash Payout Scheme Secretariat will also, in the light of the circumstances of individual cases, consider accepting other supporting documents, including medical certificate issued by an overseas or Mainland registered medical practitioner). For medical certificates, only those issued within one year before the commencement date of the Scheme (i.e. 21 June 2020) will be considered valid (except for persons who are permanently immobile);
4. the original of the bank statement or passbook of the agent’s sole-name local Hong Kong dollar savings or current account (i.e. page(s) showing the name of the agent and the bank account number), if payment is to be made by direct bank transfer;
5. proof of the agent’s current address in Hong Kong (e.g. water bill or bank statement of the recent three months); and
6. a duly completed specified registration form (Form 6A) signed by the physically immobile registrant in the presence of a third party as a witness, and also by the witness and the agent.

The agent must undertake that the sum disbursed to the registrant (i.e. the physically immobile person) by the Government under the Scheme will be administered and spent for the benefit of the registrant. The agent must also undertake to notify the Government forthwith of any overpayment received on behalf of the registrant under the Scheme and return the amount certified by the Government as overpayment, as well as indemnify the Government against all possible claims from other parties in relation to the payment that he/she has received on behalf of the registrant under the Scheme.

The agent may choose to receive payment on behalf of the physically immobile person by direct bank transfer or collecting an order cheque.

The agent may access the Scheme’s webpage, call 182020 or visit the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department to download or obtain the specified registration form (Form 6A) and contact the Cash Payout Scheme Secretariat during office hours for completing the registration procedures (telephone no.: 31060740).

If eligible persons holding an EC can go through the registration process on their own, they can register and receive payment under the Scheme by direct bank transfer or collecting an order cheque, similar to other registrants. They need to complete a specified registration form (Form 6B) and send it together with a copy of their EC and a copy of the bank statement or passbook (if applicable) of their sole-name local Hong Kong dollar savings or current bank account by post to the “Cash Payout Scheme Secretariat, GPO Box 180000, Hong Kong”. They may access the Scheme’s webpage, call 182020 or visit the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department to download or obtain the specified registration form (Form 6B).

Prisoners who meet the eligibility criteria may register for the Scheme. They may register and receive payment under the Scheme through banks, similar to other eligible persons. Special arrangements will be made for eligible prisoners who do not have bank accounts and whose in prison terms are beyond the specified period for cheque collection at post offices. They may fill in a specified registration form (Form 4), which can be obtained through the Correctional Services Department (“CSD”), and receive payment through the CSD upon confirmation of their eligibility for the Scheme.

Any person who meet the eligibility criteria may register for the Scheme. Eligible person may make electronic registration through banks or submit registration form by post. If individual eligible persons have difficulties in the registration process, these persons or their family members may contact the Cash Payout Scheme Secretariat (Tel: 3106 0740), which will make every effort to provide appropriate assistance.

For those who register through banks, they need to provide the following information during registration depending on the means of registration used:

For registrants who register through the Hongkong Post (including submission of e-form/paper registration forms by post or in person), they need to provide the following information on the registration form:

1. HKPIC number;
2. Name;
3. Local contact telephone number;
4. Local correspondence address; and
5. Post office selected for cheque collection.

As stated by the Government in the Personal Information Collection Statement for the Scheme, the information collected will mainly be used for the purposes of effecting cash handouts under the Cash Payout Scheme and effecting cash/non-cash handouts/refunds (if any) under schemes administered by the Government in future that are aimed at, amongst other things, encouraging local consumption, relieving people’s financial burden, and/or returning wealth to the people. The Government will not use the collected information for purposes other than the above objectives.

Through the registration of the Cash Payout Scheme, the Government hopes to ask for the consent from the public members their authorization for the Government to use the concerned personal data when launching similar schemes in the future, so that registration by the concerned citizens will no longer be necessary.

The Government will handle with care the personal data of registrants in accordance with the requirements of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. Banks and the Hongkong Post, as agents of the Government under the Scheme, are also required to strictly comply with the requirements of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance in processing the registrants’ personal data. Moreover, the computer systems for and the process of handling registration and payment have passed the privacy impact assessment conducted by an independent consultant, thus ensuring that the business flow and related system design of the Scheme are in compliance with statutory requirements. The data collected under the Scheme will be kept for seven years, after which a review will be conducted.

To protect the personal data of registrants and prevent fraudulent acts, staff of the banks and the Hongkong Post are not allowed to amend the information provided on the registration form on behalf of the registrants except for non-personal data (i.e. the code of the post office for cheque collection). They will not call the registrants to obtain information relating to the registration, including but not limited to information on identity cards and addresses. The Hongkong Post will only call registrants using the designated telephone number 2908 0070. Members of the public who have doubts about the authenticity of calls from the banks or the Hongkong Post may call the Hongkong Post hotline at 2921 2222 or the banks’ hotlines (click here for the banks’ hotlines).

Hong Kong identity card numbers and bank account numbers are sensitive personal data which should be handled carefully. Registrants should not casually reveal such information to a third party. A person who needs assistance in completing the registration form should seek assistance from someone trustworthy, such as family members or close relatives/friends. Registration forms must be signed by the registrants themselves, and not by any other person on their behalf.

The registrants should note the following three key issues:

1. Understand the purpose of data collection by the NGO concerned and whether the data will be transferred to parties other than the Government and its agents such as the banks. If the NGO indicates that such data will be used for purposes other than registration for the Scheme, the registrant should seriously consider if he/she agrees to the use of the data for those additional purposes before providing them to that NGO.
2. Do not provide excessive personal data. If the registrant is asked to provide more data than are required for registration under the Scheme, he/she should ask for an explanation.
3. Keep a record of the name and contact details of the person collecting the data and the name of the NGO that he/she represents.

Before an NGO decides to collect personal data from registrants in assisting them to register for the Scheme, it needs to obtain the consent of the registrants and ensure that the purpose of collecting the data is directly related to its function or activity.

If the sole purpose of collection of personal data is to assist the registrants in registering for the Scheme, the NGO concerned should not collect additional personal data which are not required under the Scheme. The NGO should also avoid bundling the purposes of registration under the Scheme with other purposes of collecting the data.

Prior to data collection, registrants should be explicitly informed of the intended purpose of data collection and where their personal data will be transferred to. These two messages should be communicated in a clear and easy-to-understand manner. The NGO concerned should also provide necessary details about the organisation and the contact person(s) whom the registrants may approach for enquiries.

While NGOs are holding the registrants’ personal data, they are required to take all practicable steps to ensure that the data are protected against unauthorised or accidental access, processing, erasure, loss or other use. Unless an NGO has obtained the registrants’ explicit and voluntary consent, personal data should only be used for the specified purpose or a purpose directly related to that purpose. When the personal data collected are no longer required, the NGO should ensure that they are safely and completely erased.

If a registrant has disagreement, he/she may make a written representation within 14 days after the receipt of the SMS or written notification. He/she should complete an Application Form for Review (CPS-REVIEW) and send it together with a copy of the notification and other relevant documents to the Cash Payout Scheme Secretariat in person, by fax (no. 3106 0701), by email (enquiry@cashpayout.gov.hk) or by post (GPO Box 180000, Hong Kong). Late applications will not be accepted unless with justifications.

A registrant or an agent who has registered on behalf of a registrant under the Scheme may seek a review on the registrant’s eligibility.

Upon receipt of an application for review, the Cash Payout Scheme Secretariat will acknowledge receipt of it. The Secretariat will review the case and may contact the applicant for further information where necessary. Depending on the merits of the case, the Secretariat may consult the relevant Government bureaux and departments. The Secretariat may, after reviewing the case, uphold or vary the original decision, and the applicant will be notified in writing of the result of the review, the follow-up action taken and his/her right to appeal (where applicable).

The Secretariat will normally notify the applicant of the result of the review in writing within six weeks after receipt of his/her application for review and relevant documents. If it is not possible to complete the review within that time frame, an interim reply will be sent by the Secretariat and a substantive reply would be issued as soon as possible.

If an applicant is not satisfied with the result of the review by the Secretariat, he/she may lodge an appeal to the Cash Payout Scheme Appeal Board within 14 days after the receipt of the result of the review (click here for the membership of the Cash Payout Scheme Appeal Board).

For details of the procedures for review and appeal, please contact the Cash Payout Scheme Secretariat at 3106 0740.

Same as other eligible persons, eligible persons outside Hong Kong may register and receive payment under the Scheme through banks in Hong Kong or the Hongkong Post. Regardless of the means of registration used, they need not submit the registration forms in person. For details of the registration procedures, please refer to Question 20 and Question 37.

Regarding collection of payment, registrants who register through banks in Hong Kong will receive payment directly through their specified bank accounts upon confirmation of their eligibility for the Scheme. For those who submit their registration forms through the Hongkong Post, they will receive, through SMS or by post, notifications of cheque collection at selected post offices upon confirmation of their eligibility for the Scheme. They should collect their cheques in person at post offices within the period specified on the notifications where possible. As registration for the Scheme will close by 31 December 2021, eligible persons who are in places outside Hong Kong may register and collect the cheques in the light of their own circumstances (e.g. collection of their cheques dovetailing with their visit to Hong Kong).

Bankrupts who meet the eligibility criteria may register for the Scheme.

Under the Bankruptcy Ordinance, an undischarged bankrupt shall report on a regular basis to his/her trustee details of any property he/she acquired during the bankruptcy period, and the trustee may by notice in writing claim for that property.

For bankruptcy cases in which the Official Receiver (“OR”) acts as the trustee, an undischarged bankrupt shall notify the OR in respect of the payment he/she has received under the Scheme for the OR to decide whether to make a claim or not. For enquiries, a bankrupt should contact the responsible case officer of the ORO direct by:

1. clicking “Contact Us” and searching for the officer concerned under “Contact Responsible Case Officers” on the ORO’s website; or
2. calling the ORO Hotline 2867 2448.

For other cases where the OR is not the trustee, it is up to individual trustees to decide how to deal with the disbursement. An undischarged bankrupt should contact his/her trustee direct.

Eligible persons who have completed the registration procedures before passing away and are confirmed to have met the eligibility criteria will be granted payment under the Scheme. No matter whether the deceased registrants have chosen to receive payment by direct bank transfer or collecting an order cheque, the sum will become part of their estate.

The executor of a deceased registrant’s will, administrator of his/her estate, or a person entitled to administer his/her estate (“estate administrator”) may claim payment under the Scheme on behalf of the registrant as his/her estate.

Before claiming the said payment, the estate administrator should first file with the Probate Registry (click here to visit the webpage of the Probate Registry, enquiry telephone no.: 2840 1683) or the Estate Beneficiaries Support Unit of Home Affairs Department (only for small estate wholly made up of money not exceeding $50,000 in aggregate) (click here to visit the webpage of the Estate Beneficiaries Support Unit, enquiry telephone no.: 2835 1535) an application for including the sum payable to the deceased registrant under the Scheme in the Schedule of Assets and Liabilities/Schedule of Money (“the Schedule”) of the deceased registrant. If the estate administrator has already completed the procedures in respect of the Schedule but has not included in it the relevant sum, he/she should complete the procedures required before claiming the payment.

Any person who wishes to claim payment under the Scheme on behalf of a deceased registrant as his/her estate should follow the procedures below:

Payment by direct bank transfer

1. If a registrant has opted to receive payment under the Scheme by direct bank transfer, but the sum has not been credited to the account before his/her passing away, the estate administrator should first apply to the Cash Payout Scheme Secretariat for a “Cash Payout Scheme Registration Confirmation Letter” (“Confirmation Letter”).
2. The estate administrator should present the Confirmation Letter issued by the Secretariat to the Probate Registry or the Home Affairs Department and apply for the inclusion of the sum payable to the deceased registrant under the Scheme in the Schedule.
3. Upon completion of the procedures referred to in (2) above, the estate administrator should within 30 days bring the necessary supporting documents to the Secretariat and claim payment under the Scheme on behalf of the deceased registrant as his/her estate through a specified registration form (Form 7).

Payment by order cheque and the deceased registrant has received the notification of cheque collection or collected the cheque (but not encashed) before passing away

1. The estate administrator should present the notification of cheque collection or the order cheque issued to the deceased registrant to the Probate Registry and apply for the inclusion of the sum payable to the deceased registrant under the Scheme in the Schedule.
2. Upon completion of the procedures referred to in (1) above, the estate administrator should within 30 days bring along the necessary supporting documents to the Secretariat and claim payment under the Scheme on behalf of the deceased registrant as his/her estate through a specified registration form (Form 7).

Payment by order cheque but the deceased registrant has not received the notification of cheque collection before passing away

1. The estate administrator should first apply to the Secretariat for a Confirmation Letter.
2. The estate administrator should present the Confirmation Letter issued by the Secretariat to the Probate Registry or the Home Affairs Department and apply for the inclusion of the sum payable to the deceased registrant under the Scheme in the Schedule.
3. Upon completion of the procedures referred to in (2) above, the estate administrator should within 30 days bring the necessary supporting documents to the Secretariat and claim payment under the Scheme on behalf of the deceased registrant as his/her estate through a specified registration form (Form 7).

Any person who wishes to claim payment under the Scheme on behalf of a deceased registrant as his/her estate may call the hotline 3106 0740 to obtain an application form for the Confirmation Letter (CPS-CONFIRM) and/or the specified registration form (Form 7) together with the guidance notes.

Under the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112), only income or profits derived from an office or employment or from carrying on a business or letting of premises are subject to tax. The payment received under the Scheme is not an income or profit as defined above, and is therefore not subject to tax.

In line with the objective of the Scheme, payment under the Scheme received by CSSA and OALA recipients will not be counted as income. The payment will also not be counted as their assets for 24 months from the date of receipt.

In line with the objective of the Scheme, payment received under the Scheme will not be counted as income when the recipients apply to the Housing Department for public housing. The payment will also not be counted as their assets for 24 months from the date of receipt.

Enquiries about whether payment received under the Scheme will be counted as the recipients’ assets under other government assistance schemes should be made to the departments concerned.