Hongkongers moving into the city's new transitional housing are now eligible for one-off allowances of up to HK$3,650 per person to help pay for relocation expenses and the costs involved in setting up their new homes.

The amount of money on offer varies, depending on how many people there are in each household and where their new temporary home is located.

"Households on Hong Kong Island and in the New Territories will receive different amounts of allowance. That's because according to our observation, the cost of moving into transitional housing tends to be higher in the New Territories," Acting Secretary for Housing Victor Tai told RTHK on Tuesday.

A family of three, for example, will get HK$3,550 in urban areas and HK$7,100 in the New Territories. The corresponding amounts for a couple are HK$2,700 and HK$5,450.

Tai said a total of around 35,000 people are expected to benefit from what will be a two-year Housing Bureau trial scheme using funding allocated by the Commission on Poverty.

Future residents and those who moved into transitional housing since June 16 this year are eligible to apply for the money and they will have to stay in their new home for at least a year.