Hong Kong’s banking heavyweights scrap it out for business as cashless payment system goes live
Faster Payment System allows customers to pay for practically everything, using the wave of their mobile phone
Hong Kong’s leading lenders are locking horns in a battle royal for new digital payment customers, after the authorities launched their ambitious “Faster Payment System” last weekend, which now allows the transfer of money and bill payments using the swipe of a quick response (QR) code on their mobile phone.
The move is considered the boldest yet by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the de facto central bank, in its efforts to turn the city into a future cashless society, dominated by cutting edge smart banking systems.
Individuals, companies and most-importantly retailers, after registering a mobile phone number or email address with their bank or e-wallet operator, will be able to transfer money to others using a swipe of their mobile.
The system allows customers to pay in shops, restaurants and retail outlets using their bank accounts or e-wallets, and pay utility bills.
The platform started accepting registrations from September 17, but actual money transfers only went live from Sunday.
More than 450,000 individual registrations have been recorded, said HKMA chief executive Norman Chan Tak-lam, split 328,000 by mobile and 70,000 by email. Some 58,000 corporate registrations have been logged.