Over 620,000 residents had picked up their government consumption subsidy smartcards before late last week’s deadline, or 95 per cent of those who had registered, the Government Information Bureau (GCS) has announced.
A GCS statement on Sunday noted that until Friday’s deadline, about MOP 1.78 billion (US$223.1 million) had been spent using the smartcard, or 95 per cent of the total amount given out. According to research by the Macau Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM), the first phase of the subsidy is expected to inject MOP 1.8 billion to MOP 2.4 billion into the city’s economy, the statement pointed out.
Both permanent and non-permanent residents are entitled to join the consumption subsidy scheme, which consists of an MOP-3,000 consumption smartcard in the first phase and an MOP-5,000 top-up in the second phase. The MOP 3,000 is to be spent between 1 May and 31 July, while the MOP-5,000 top-up is to be spent between August and December.
The statement added that up to last week, over 205,000 people have already used up their MOP 3,000 subsidy, or one-third of the total number. The bureau reminded everyone to use all the cash on their smartcards before 31 July as the remainder will not be transferred to the second phase of the subsidy programme, but returned to the public coffers.
The statement pointed out that anyone who lost their first smartcard should report the loss to the police as soon as possible. Those who lost their first smartcard and reported it to the police or did not pick up their first smartcard can still obtain their second phase subsidy.
Details about how to receive the second phase subsidy have not been announced
Many local eateries are accepting the smartcards as one of the payment methods. Earlier this year, MacauPass pledged to install smartcard payment machines for free. According to MacauPass’ official website, there are over 14,000 machines that accept the cards, including restaurants, car parks and supermarkets. According to the GCS statement, 63 per cent of the MOP 1.78 billion spent until Friday benefitted small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
One of the food stall vendors in the S. Lourenço Municipal Market in the Praia do Manduco area told the Macau Post Daily that many people chose the government-issued smartcard (known as “siu fai kat” in Cantonese) as their preferred payment method, adding that it took him some time to learn how to use the machine.
The first-phase subsidy plan has a MOP 300 daily spending limit. The government has yet to announce if it will increase the daily spending limit for the second phase of the subsidy plan. Besides, many stand-alone restaurants and hotel restaurants offer discounts for smartcard users. The stand-alone restaurants have been offering discounted sets within the daily spending limit. Many hotels also offer 25 per cent off for smartcard users to attract local resident to their restaurants.
According to the GCS statement, the smartcard holders spent 71 per cent of the subsidy on retail shopping and 24 per cent on eating out.
(The Macau Post Daily/Macau News)
