The Hong Kong government launched an electronic consumer voucher scheme this summer, distributing $5,000 to eligible persons, but it does not include non-permanent residents who have lived in Hong Kong for more than 7 years.
A group filed a petition at the Government Headquarters today (12), alleging that the residents were unable to apply to become permanent residents of Hong Kong due to the fact that they had been in jail and had file records, and therefore lost their eligibility to apply for voucher cancellation, criticizing the government's move as discriminating against rehabilitated persons. Urged the Financial Secretary to include them in the consumer voucher plan.
The period of imprisonment is not included in the legally calculated residence period
The current conditions for applying for electronic consumer vouchers include that the applicant must be a Hong Kong permanent resident, or hold a "Permit to Hong Kong and Macau" (one-way permit) to come to Hong Kong, or hold the Immigration Department’s "Certificate of Exemption from Registration", and require a Hong Kong permanent resident to do Guarantor, legally staying in Hong Kong as a dependant, etc.
The Hong Kong Association of Community Organizations (Social Association) community organization officer Wu Weidong said that there are currently about 50,000 to 100,000 non-permanent residents who have lived in Hong Kong for more than 7 years but fail to meet the eligibility requirements. Most of them are rehabilitated persons who have been released from prison.
He confessed that these people had been in jail for committing crimes in the past seven years. The authorities claimed that the period of imprisonment would not be included in the legally calculated period of stay, which prevented them from meeting the requirement of 7 consecutive years of residence in Hong Kong and thus prevented them from becoming permanent residents of Hong Kong. In a disguised form, he was deprived of his eligibility to apply for consumer electronic vouchers.
He added that the group of people committed "minor crimes" with a sentence of only a few days to one month. He also believed that the group of people had been punished by law. Now the government does not include them in the electronic consumer voucher program, which amounts to discrimination. Rehabilitated persons, and described this arrangement as a "second punishment" for rehabilitated persons.
Wu Weidong believes that it is unreasonable to exclude non-permanent residents who have lived in Hong Kong for more than 7 years from the electronic consumer voucher program.
(Photo by Liao Wenqian)
People who have lived in Hong Kong for 40 years still do not meet the eligibility criteria
One of them, Mr. Liu, a non-permanent resident who has lived in Hong Kong for more than 7 years, said that he smuggled into Hong Kong in 1975 and was able to stay in Hong Kong by means of the arrival policy at the time. They cannot apply for the status of permanent residents in Hong Kong, so they are not eligible to apply for electronic consumer vouchers.
He has lived in Hong Kong for more than 40 years. He said that he had worked as a construction worker and engaged in dangerous work such as subway projects and drilling holes. Excluding non-permanent residents for 7 years from the consumer voucher scheme is a discriminatory act. To put it bluntly, "everyone (person) has (electronic consumer vouchers), and it is ours (non-permanent residents who have lived in Hong Kong for more than 7 years). "Now a street sleeper, he said frankly that he hopes to "buy food" if he obtains the coupon.
Mr. Liu said frankly that he does not have much confidence in successfully fighting for the appeal, but he still hopes that he can get an electronic consumer voucher worth 5,000 yuan.
(Photo by Liao Wenqian)
Another Mr. Leung came to Hong Kong in 1979. He was also unable to obtain the status of Hong Kong permanent resident due to imprisonment and a criminal record.
He said that he has lived in this place for decades and lamented that "it is impossible to have the right to apply for electronic consumer vouchers in Hong Kong for decades." He felt that it was very unfair.
Mr. Leung currently lives in public housing and is also receiving CSSA.
Wu Weidong believes that the Housing Department and other institutions have recognized Mr. Leung as a "Hong Kong citizen," but the Financial Secretary has not included him in the consumer voucher scheme. This is really puzzling and unclear.
Mr. Leung (right) said that if they can get electronic consumer vouchers, they will be able to contribute to the local economy and promote the prosperity of Hong Kong.
(Photo by Liao Wenqian)
Wu Weidong said that the Social Association had previously submitted information to the government on 52 non-permanent residents who had lived in Hong Kong for more than 7 years, but the authorities responded indifferently. In addition, the registration period of the consumer voucher scheme will expire on August 14 (Saturday). Therefore, It is hoped that through this petition, a direct meeting with the Financial Secretary, Chen Maobo, will be requested, and he will be included in the consumer electronic voucher program as soon as possible.
On the other hand, in addition to electronic consumer vouchers, the government's 10,000 yuan cash distribution plan last year also excluded non-permanent residents who have lived in Hong Kong for more than 7 years from the plan. I hope the Financial Secretary can consider it together.
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