Over 620,000 residents had picked up their government consumption subsidy smartcards before late last week’s deadline, or 95 percent of those who had registered, the Government Information Bureau (GCS) has announced.
A GCS statement on Sunday noted that until Friday’s deadline, about 1.78 billion patacas had been spent using the smartcard, or 95 percent 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 1.8 billion to 2.4 billion patacas 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 a 3,000-pataca consumption smartcard in the first phase and a 5,000-pataca top-up in the second phase. The 3,000 patacas is to be spent between May 1 and July 31, while the 5,000-pataca 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 3,000 pataca subsidy, or one-third of the total number. The bureau reminded everyone to use all the cash on their smartcards before July 31 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 percent of the 1.78 billion patacas 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 300 patacas 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 percent off for smartcard users to attract local resident to their restaurants.
According to the GCS statement, the smartcard holders spent 71 percent of the subsidy on retail shopping and 24 percent on eating out.
This undated handout photo provided by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) last week shows a resident paying his or her bill using a consumption subsidy smartcard at a restaurant.
