Company seeks retailers, but scheme applies only to cards issued in HK
Shopping and snacking in Macau and Shenzhen will soon be more convenient now that Octopus Cards has been cleared to export its smart card technology for cashless transactions to the popular tourist spots.
The highly anticipated move underscores the need for Octopus to spread its tentacles beyond Hong Kong, where 13.5 million cards are in circulation and are used for a variety of transactions from paying parking fees to making donations.
For Macau, Octopus has received approval from the Hong Kong and Macau monetary authorities to implement its technology and is currently seeking suitable retailers and businesses, including bus and taxi operators.
Sales and marketing director Cindy Cheng Hon Kwok-fong declined to identify merchandisers but said the initial targets in Macau were companies already operating in Hong Kong, as the current arrangement applies only to cards issued in Hong Kong.
'If we issue a Macau card, we need another licence,' she said.
Chief executive Eric Tai Yung-muk stressed that Octopus was not looking to introduce its technology in casinos as it is unfamiliar with gambling operations.