Why most Hongkongers aren’t yet reaching for their e-wallets

When it comes to mobile wallets and cashless transactions, consumers in Hong Kong are well aware of their options but cite privacy concerns as a barrier to adopting these new payment methods, a recent survey has found.

According to the report by PayPal, 70 per cent of Hongkongers surveyed have used mobile payments, contactless card payment and e-wallets, well behind China on 86 per cent and Singapore on 82 per cent.

Of the remaining 30 per cent, about half cited worries about privacy as a barrier to adopting these payment methods.

“More must be done to convert high awareness into higher adoption of new digital payment methods soon,” said Soon Sze-meng, general manager of PayPal Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan. Soon urged industry players to educate consumers about the benefits of digital payments in order to encourage adoption and move the industry forwards.

In an interview with the Post, Soon pointed out that Hong Kong is a city with one of the highest mobile penetration rates in the world, but said the gap between awareness of digital payment options and their adoption was still fairly wide.

While 54 per cent of those surveyed were aware of e-wallets and mobile wallets, only 41 per cent are using them, according to the report, titled Digital Payments: Thinking Beyond Transactions.