‘Children should also get spending vouchers’

A charity which helps low-income families said on Tuesday that children should also be eligible for the HK$10,000 spending vouchers to be distributed by the government.

People Service Centre surveyed over 600 carers, most of whom live in public housing estates or subdivided flats.

The group said many of these families reported finding it difficult to pay for living expenses during the pandemic.

A social worker with the group, Kenny Chiu, said families are spending extra on anti-epidemic supplies and their children’s online learning.

“During Covid, the parents need to buy extra things for the children like extra face masks and medical expenses and Covid test packs,” he said.

“They need to buy extra things for their learning like SIM cards or extra equipment for online activities.”

Chiu said the families also expressed the hope that the consumption vouchers on the way from the government could be used to pay rent and utility bills.