Society will benefit from cash handout
- There have been many suggestions on how people should spend the HK$10,000 allowance. No matter what each person decides, collectively there will be a positive impact
If you still have not decided what to do with the windfall, you are not alone. Many people are overwhelmed by the array of promotions by restaurants and retail outlets. There are also options for charity donation, investment and courses for self improvement. This is to be expected in an economy so badly hit. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has set an example by supporting charities before he has even registered to get the handout, which is eligible to all adult permanent citizens until the end of next year. For top income earners like him, a lot more can be done to help the economy and society.
Unfortunately, shopping and dining out may seem a luxury to those who have lost their jobs amid social and economic turmoil. Many are still struggling and the payout can hardly make ends meet. The need for the social safety net to be cast wider cannot be ruled out.
Be it a shopping spree, a nice meal or a more worthy cause, the use of the HK$10,000 is entirely a personal choice. Society stands to benefit when everyone makes the best of it.