There are various types of octopus cards available, while sold tourist octopus may be the best choice for tourists. A refund handling fee will be charged if you return. If you encounter any problems while using a hong kong taxi, such as suspected overcharging, take down the taxi drivers name and licence plate number as shown on the taxi driver identity card on the dashboard. Mar 06, 2018 following efforts by wechat pay and alipay to introduce their mobile payment platforms to hong kongs taxis, octopus is reportedly set to make another push to get taxi drivers in hong kong to. Living in taiwan its quick and easy to take trips to hong kong, and since i do that a few times a year i decided to start sharing my experiences in hong. Octopus is one of the worlds most extensive smart card payment system, with over 50,000 reader being used by over 3,000 service provider in hong kong. We think its amazing, due to its diversity and ease, but after a while, we tried to mix it up. Although a popular form of transport, taxis in hong kong do not accept the octopus card. As the octopus card is still valid for three years after the last topup date, you may retain the card as souvenir or for your next visit to hong kong. Look for the taxis with the octopus card sign that you dont need to prepare the changes and pay with your octopus card. Tips on using public transportation in hong kong youtube. The digital transaction operators goal is to encourage cabbies and passengers to stop using cash. Some taxis accepting octopus card payment display the octopus logo on the front passenger doors.
It pays for public transport on the mtr metro, buses, trams, ferries and coaches, as well as some taxis. Octopus card company had formed a working party with shenzhen tong in 2008 to establish reciprocal arrangements to allow the octopus card to be used on the shenzhen metro and the shenzhen tong shenzhens equivalent of the octopus card to be used on public transport in hong kong. On 27 june 2006, after 10 years of negotiations between octopus cards limited and the taxi industry, the first trial of taxis equipped with octopus card readers was launched in the new territories with taxis operated by the yellow taxi group. When you hear a dood sound and a receipt is shown on the drivers mobile screen, your payment transaction is completed.
New scheme will allow taxis to accept octopus cards starting. Hong kong epayment operator octopus launches qr code service, aiming to get citys 40,000 taxi drivers off cash octopus has an edge. Octopus equips hong kong taxi drivers with nfc payments. Hong kong taxi drivers can now use ocls octopus app for business to accept payments. Previously, drivers were required to install an octopus card reader which most drivers refused. Hong kong airport express pass versus octopus card asia. Im sure drivers could do the taxi fare increase proposal page 2 hong kong forums geoexpat. Mar 06, 2018 paying for taxis is expected to become easier from next month, with octopus hong kong announcing plans to launch its new epayment scheme in cabs this april.
The octopus card is a contactless smart card, and is mostly used to pay for rides on the mtr, buses, minibuses, ferries, trams and on a few taxis equipped with octopus readers. The company is expected to release a tailormade app for taxi drivers, which would allow passengers to simply tap their octopus card on a. Octopus can be used to make payments on public transport and at a wide range of retailers and facilities. If you want to schedule a day trip to tai o fishing village, or explore the coolest restaurants and local bars, make sure you know the cheapest and easiest way to use public transport in hong kong. Octopus is an electronic payment system using a contactless smart card known as octopus which includes octopus cards and products. Octopus to try again to get hong kongs 40,000 taxi drivers on board. Place your octopus card at the nfc area on the back of the drivers mobile phone. Taxis running in the city are red in color, while those in the new territories are in green and those on lantau island are in blue. Jul 02, 2019 hong kongs most popular taxi app will now accept octopus card payments, using cashless fares to attract passengers in the citys ultracompetitive ridehailing market.
Transit card issuer octopus cards limited ocl has partnered with hong kong taxi council hktc to provide local taxi drivers with the ability. It was introduced in 1997 as a payment method on the mtr. Previously, drivers were required to install an octopus card reader which. An easy guide to public transport in hong kong honeycombers. Could hong kongs taxis soon accept octopus card payments. Octopus is working on a dedicated smartphone app where drivers can collect fares with passengers simply swiping their octopus cards or scan a qr code to pay for the fare. Transit card issuer octopus cards limited ocl has partnered with hong kong taxi council hktc to provide local taxi drivers with the ability to use their nfc phone to accept payments for cab rides from octopus card users. Asia hong kong will taxi drivers readspeak english. Octopus equips hong kong taxi drivers with nfc payments nfcw. Opportunities and risks to 2023 report has been added to s offering. Dec 24, 2019 from taxis to bus and trams, grab an octopus card and get around hong kong by public transport with our ultimate guide. Tailormade app that acts as card reader to be rolled out for drivers in april amid efforts to get them off cash payments. In the next four months, octopus reader will be introduced to and installed on around 300 taxis in hong kong. Hi we are only in hong kong for 2 full days, should we get an octopus card or pay as we go.
Please note that information provided above is for reference only, please contact the related transport providers for more detailed and accurate information. Hong kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Hong kong pioneered the use of contactless technology for transit passes, which is becoming more widespread as metro systems around the world move away from singleuse paper tickets. The sold tourist octopus card has an iconic hong kong design, making it an ideal souvenir that can be used again when you come back. I am flying to hong kong for five days in a few weeks.
Afraid of being infected by strangers, several stop driving. Hong kong taxis are plentiful, cheap, convenient, metered and a great option to get. Taxis cash or credit card hong kong forum tripadvisor. Hk octopus cards can only at a couple of fast food places so basically no. Mar 05, 2018 octopus to try again to get hong kong s 40,000 taxi drivers on board following moves by alipay and wechat pay. Failure to pay your taxi fare is a criminal offence in hong kong. Launched in september 1997 to collect fares for the territorys mass transit system, the octopus card system is the second contactless smart card system in the world, after the korean upass, and has since grown into a widely used payment system for all. Octopus is the universal transit card in hong kong, used by both locals and tourists. There is a big push right now from all mobile payment players in hong kong to break into the taxi market. A new octopus qr code service is rolling out in hong kong to make it easier for the 40,000 taxi drivers throughout the city to accept mobile payments instead of cash. You can use hk dollars in most places in macau though, including coins in the buses.
Octopus qr code launches in hong kong for taxi mobile payments. Octopus card originally introduced in 1997 as the worlds second ever contactless travel card, the octopus card is imperative to getting around hong kong. The contactless card operator is once again trying to court taxi drivers to begin accepting the payment solution. It looks like the two best travel pass options are the airport express pass round trip journey to the airport plus unlimited travel on the mtr for three consecutive days, or i can just get the octopus card and load up as i go along. Causeway bay a must go spot hong kong dining guide.
Buy octopus card on airport hong kong forum tripadvisor. When we transfer from the elements mall to the salisbury ymca, will the taxi driver understand english or do i. May 03, 2018 taxi drivers in hong kong can now accept fares from an octopus card if they are registered with a new app that launched on thursday. Octopus to try again to get hong kongs 40,000 taxi. During late 2017 epayment platforms had entered the hong kong taxi market with about 1,500 taxis signing up with alipay and 1,000 taxis having signed up for wechat pay transactions. Place your octopus card at the nfc area on the back of the drivers mobile.
This report provides detailed analysis of market trends in hong kong. Then contact one of the numbers below to lodge your complaint. Hong kongs 40,000 active taxi drivers are deemed a highrisk group because of their frequent contact with strangers. The company is expected to release a tailormade app for taxi drivers, which would allow passengers to simply tap their octopus card on a device in order to pay for their journey. Octopus to try again to get hong kong s 40,000 taxi drivers on board following moves by alipay and wechat pay. Pay taxi fares with an octopus card confirm the drivers name and the taxi fare on the drivers mobile screen. Paying by octopus could prevent rogue drivers from pulling the switching notes. Taxi fare increase proposal page 2 hong kong forums. I read some posts suggesting airport express customer service counter. Octopus joins hong kong taxi epayment market with launch of. Now you can pay taxi fares with octopus in designated taxis. There may be a small luggage charge if the driver decides to. The card which you can top up and use on the mtr, ferry, bus an trams around the city, can be bought at the airport, mtr customer desk and other transport companies. Octopus joins hong kong taxi epayment market with launch of new.