Hongkongers and Mainland visitors to the SAR can pay taxi fares using UnionPay, Alipay and AlipayHK, as long as their cabs have Octopus fare machines that accept QR code payments from the these Chinese e-payment apps. This move comes into effect on January 25, and will be the first time that Octopus will open its network to other payment platforms in its 26-year history.
Out of the 40,000-plus cab drivers in the city, 21,000 will be able to accept e-payments using these QR code wallets by updating their existing Octopus App for Business on their mobile phones. Once the e-payment option goes live on January 25, passengers can scan the QR code in the cab to make their payments after they complete their trips.
While Hong Kong has an extensive public transport network comprising a rapid transit railway system (MTR), buses, ferries, trams and taxis, passengers can only pay for their trips with either Octopus cards or cash. However, passengers in the city now have more contactless payments as the MTR and HK Tramways started accepting Visa payments last year.
Taxi flag fall fares in the SAR may increase by up to 20% on Urban (red), New Territories (green), and Lantau (blue) cabs. Taxi operators have applied for base charge hikes of HK$5 for red cabs that serve Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, and a rise of HK$4.5 for green and blue cabs.
Header image credits: ckstockphoto via Canva
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