The new Octopus card will allow users to take public transport throughout the Greater Bay area
It seems there’s not a lot you can’t do with Hong Kong’s humble Octopus card. The contactless smart card is used by almost everyone in the territory, pretty much every day of the week, from getting around on public transport, to paying for roadside parking and buying a morning coffee. And now it’s getting an update with a host of new facilities.
Later this year, Octopus hopes to launch a new card partnership with China’s T-union card. This means that users will be able to use their Octopus to access public transport in Macau and more than 300 cities in mainland China. The card can be topped up in Hong Kong dollars and deductions will be made in the local currency.
Not forgetting aesthetics, the new smart Octopus card will be available with various in-app images, such as Shanghai’s Pearl Tower, the Peak Tram or Tian’anmen Square in Beijing.
What’s more, Octopus plans to introduce a person-to-person transfer system which will enable money transfers from one mobile phone to another. It will also be adding an in-app ride-hailing function for mainland China.
It’s hoped the new Octopus card for Hong Kong, mainland China and Macau will be available from September.
Further down the line, Octopus is also hoping to partner with a Japanese payment platform which would mean users would be able to use their Octopus cards in Japan.
It’s hoped the new Octopus card for Hong Kong, mainland China and Macau will be available from September.
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