Cash handouts considered essential livelihood policy, says Cheong

André Cheong

Addressing recent concerns about the potential cancellation or reorganization of cash handouts, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, André Cheong, stated yesterday that the government will continually optimize and improve relevant plans based on feedback from all sectors of society and the general public.

“Although the Wealth Partaking Scheme is not a permanent welfare system, as some media and citizens have recently pointed out, it is an important livelihood policy of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) government and a vital measure to enhance residents’ sense of belonging, happiness and well-being,” Cheong reaffirmed its significance while responding to a reporter’s question during yesterday’s Executive Council news conference.

Noting an online video claiming that one must stay in Macau for at least eight hours a day to be eligible for cash handouts, the Secretary reminded Macau residents that such information is incorrect.

“At the last press conference, I made it clear that as long as Macau residents spend a certain amount of time in Macau each day, regardless of the duration, they meet the requirement of being in Macau for one day,” he said.

Regarding the reduction in expenses following the “optimization” of the cash handout scheme and the number of ineligible individuals, Cheong stated that since those initially deemed ineligible can still apply for declaration, “these figures are likely to change significantly over time, and the specific number of ineligible applicants has not yet been determined.”

Therefore, according to him, it is currently not possible to estimate the potential savings for the Treasury.