Electricity giant CLP Power will allocate HK$60 million from its community energy saving fund for the distribution of HK$100 consumption vouchers to 600,000 households.

The distribution, CLP's fifth, will see the vouchers given to those who receive the elderly electricity tariff concession or are low-usage customers.

In a first, households will receive e-vouchers via the CLP app, whereas print vouchers will be sent to elderly households.

Voucher owners can use them at more than 4,000 retail and catering outlets.

More types of shops are participating in the scheme this year, chief corporate development officer Quince Chong said.

"This year, there are more than 4,000 retail and catering outlets, and we have seen that there are more and more types of participating shops offering different choices that can meet the public's daily needs," she said.

"These are not only restaurants, but also large retail stores, coffee shops, bakeries and even grocery stores, which sell day-to-day items, and customers can use the consumption vouchers there."

While Hong Kong's economy has gradually been recovering, Chong noted, retailers and the catering sector are still under pressure as consumer spending patterns change.

She said CLP hoped the vouchers would create a multiplier effect, stimulate local spending and help accelerate economic growth.

A local restaurant that has joined the scheme from the get-go said it had seen many elderly customers come in to use the vouchers over the years, bringing more foot traffic and extra revenue.

The owner said sales driven by the vouchers had risen by five to 10 percent on average.



Edited by Tony Sabine