Over 200,000 residents received yesterday their start-up funds of 5,000 patacas and a discount grant of 3,000 patacas on their smartcards and electronic devices on the first pick-up day of the government’s current electronic consumption benefits scheme, according to a joint statement by the Macau Monetary Authority (AMCM) and the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT).
The statement noted that as of 5:45 p.m. yesterday, 47,708 residents had topped up or picked up their “consumption cards” at 174 top-up spots at bank branches, government entities and association offices. The statement added that at the same time a total of 153,906 residents had received the funds via auto-transfer to their appointed mobile payment platforms.
The statement underlined that the pick-up period for the scheme will end on January 17 next year while the period for using the funds will run from June 1 to February 28 next year. The statement added that as of 5 p.m. yesterday, 449,752 residents had completed the registration, of whom 208,059 had signed up for mobile payment platforms while 241,693 had chosen the “consumption card”.
According to the statement, residents who are registered to use the “consumption card” should ensure that the card has 10 patacas or less left on it, or apply for a refund of the money left on the card at the MACAU Pass Customer Service Centre before they top up the cards for the new round of benefits, while those who got a new card do not need to top up their card as the funds have already been added.
For the third round of the government’s electronic consumption benefits scheme, both permanent residents and non-permanent residents will receive start-up funds of 5,000 patacas and a discount grant of 3,000 patacas on smartcards or mobile payment platforms that will run within a nine-month validity period.
This handout photo shows a man (right) topping up his “consumption card” with the help of a bank staff yesterday during the first pick-up day of the government’s current electronic consumption benefits scheme. Photo courtesy of AMCM/DSEDT
