Hong Kong residents are being offered a million-dollar apartment as a prize in a lucky lottery – only if they are willing to take the Covid-19 jab. Also, 20 other prizes worth HK$100,000 each are being offered to the Hong Kong residents in the vaccine-taking offer.
The brand new apartment – worth US 1.4 million – was donated on Friday by some property developers, who also announced the other prizes for all residents coming forward to get vaccinated.
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Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world to have secured more than enough doses to inoculate all 7.5 million people. However, distrust of the government and lack of urgency in the comparatively virus-free city — has led to hesitancy and a dismally-lagging inoculation drive.
The Sino Group, Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation and Chinese Estates Holdings said that all permanent Hong Kong residents aged 18 and above, who had received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccines , would be eligible to register for the lucky draw until September 1.
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The announcement came three days after the city’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam rejected calls for the government to offer cash handouts to encourage inoculations, and instead suggested that local businesses provide the incentives. “To offer cash or something physical to encourage vaccination shouldn’t be done by the government,” she said. (AW)
