The Octopus Card is Hong Kong’s ubiquitous contactless smart card used to pay for public transport, shops, medical care and even government services, and its usage will soon be extended to mainland China. Plans are in place to allow users to swipe their new Octopus cards on public transport in more than 320 cities in mainland China from the second quarter of 2024.
The main selling points of this Octopus version are: Users can top up their cards using Hong Kong dollars and the fare will be automatically debited in Chinese Yuan. Previous versions of similar cross-border Octopus cards, such as the Hu Tongxing link between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, have received a less enthusiastic response, mainly because users have been able to exchange Hong Kong dollars and RMB. This new Octopus card had a problem because it had to be charged separately. solved.
The launch of this card will make traveling to mainland China much easier. Payments have long been a bit cumbersome in mainland China, with Hong Kongers having to sign up for different apps due to different payment systems accepted across borders.
The new Hong Kong-Mainland Octopus Card will go on sale from Monday, March 25th, and will be available at various convenience stores as well as at seven MTR stations (Hung Hom Station, Lok Ma Chau Station, Sheung Shui Station, Fanling Station, Tsuen Wan Station, and Kowloon Tong Station). You can also purchase them at stations. , Admiralty. The card will cost $88 without a deposit or inherent stored value, and like cards currently in circulation, has a stored value cap of $3,000. While tech-savvy users may scoff at physical cards in the age of digital wallets, cardholders can manage and top up this new card via their existing Octopus app. .
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