Talk of the town：2-phase voucher
【明報專訊】Earlier the government set forth the disbursement arrangement of the consumption vouchers. They would be released in 2 phases, $2000 in the first phase and $3000 in the second.
The registration period was from 4 July to 14 August 2021. If a citizen completed the electronic registration before 17 July, he or she could obtain the $2000 on 1 August and receive the remaining $3000 on 1 October. If the registration was made on or after 18 July, the first voucher would be released on 1 September, and subsequently, they would obtain the $3000 on 1 November.
The arrangement is quite complicated, and some people have found the application form too difficult to fill in as well. Although most people have chosen the electronic means to apply for the voucher, citizens who are not familiar with electronic gadgets needed to submit an ordinary paper application. On the first few days in September, hundreds of people queued up outside the Consumption Voucher Scheme Secretariat in Mong Kok to make inquiries and resubmission of application form.
The Consumer Council announced that 259 complaints related to the consumption vouchers had been received from 1 August to 30 August. Some complained that some merchants raised prices upon the distribution of the voucher, while some complained that some merchants had set a minimum payment.
◆Grammer booster
Set forth
To announce or describe something, usually in speeches or formal writing.
e.g. This politician set forth his view on the upcoming election in the forum.
■Gear up
1. People can get the $3000 voucher immediately after the consumption of the $2000 voucher.
(True/ False/ Not Given)
2. The Consumption Voucher Scheme Secretariat in Mong Kok is the only enquiry centre in Hong Kong.
(True/ False/ Not Given)
■ Game
Difficulty: ★★
MoMo is finding her way to the Consumption Voucher Scheme Secretariat. Can you help her?
(Answers on next text)
■Glossary
disbursement (n) 支付
phase (n) 階段
complicated (adj) 複雜的
merchant (n) 商家
[Smarties' Power English 第317期]
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