The Social Welfare Department announced today that elderly Hong Kong residents receiving portable cash assistance can now choose to have their payments remitted directly into their designated Mainland bank accounts in Hong Kong dollars free of charge.

The service is available to eligible applicants and beneficiaries under the portable scheme for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, the Old Age Living Allowance and the Old Age Allowance under the Guangdong and Fujian social security allowance Schemes.

The department stipulated that the accounts must be Hong Kong dollar accounts opened by the recipients at branches of the Bank of China or the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China located in the provinces of Guangdong or Fujian.

Recipients who wish to apply for the service must provide documentary proof of their Mainland bank accounts during the application process.

For enquiries, contact the relevant Social Security Field Unit, the New Home Association for Guangdong Province at 2815 7399 or the International Social Service Hong Kong Branch for Fujian Province at 2755 6800.