As of Wednesday, registration for the government’s NT$10,000 (US$326) universal cash handout is open. For the first five days, registration will be prioritized based on the last digit of the recipient’s ID number; on November 10, registration will be fully open, and funds may be received as early as November 12.

Economic Minister Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) stated in an interview at the Legislature that it should have a positive effect and expressed his hope that people would not use the handout simply to replace their usual daily expenses. Per Kung, the Economic Ministry has launched accompanying promotional campaigns in Taiwan’s shopping districts to encourage people to travel more and stimulate domestic demand.

Kung himself said he plans to take his family on a trip after receiving the NT$10,000. “Ideally, you should spend it on something extra, such as domestic travel, sightseeing, or shopping in local commercial districts. This will have a better effect on the economy than if you were to use it to purchase everyday necessities,” he said.

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics has released a preliminary estimate of 7.64% economic growth for the third fiscal quarter and projected full-year growth of at least 5%. Regarding this, Kung said the government had already expected annual growth to hit 5%, adding that the final figure might even exceed expectations.