【原文】摘錄自2024年3月26日香港《文匯報》：八達通3月26日起推出名為「全國通卡」的服務，憑卡可在香港及內地共336個城市乘搭公共交通工具。該項服務在打通本港和內地小額支付方面邁出一步，促進粵港澳大灣區日常生活進一步融合，便利港人出行，尤其對於習慣使用八達通的長者是一大便利。八達通公司等本港電子支付工具應進一步完善其服務，擴大在內地的使用範圍，同時加快拓展海外電子支付市場，擴大本港電子支付的輻射範圍。

現時港人到內地搭乘公共交通工具，支付方式十分多樣化，使用AlipayHK或港版微信錢包都可以掃碼支付。但對於習慣使用八達通的香港長者而言，「嘟卡」依然是最方便的選擇。今次「全國通卡」可以一次打通全國336個城市，讓港人北上去絕大部分地方的基本交通再無後顧之憂。

八達通自1997年投入使用以來，已經從最初的巴士、地鐵等公共交通工具支付，逐步擴展到商店、食肆、停車場等多個領域的小額支付。如今「全國通卡」的推出，實現了八達通跨境使用的突破，為八達通打開了更廣闊的市場空間，也為香港電子支付行業注入一定新活力。除了本地市民之外，內地和海外旅客亦經常使用。

不過，八達通在申請、退款方面限制多，仍有可改善空間，如租用版八達通遺失後難以追回金額，長時間不使用會被徵收行政費等，對旅客構成一些不便。此外，香港電子支付的整體普及率仍有待提高。特別是在街市檔位、的士等行業，由於部分年長檔主和司機習慣收取現金，對電子支付存在一定的抵觸情緒。

本港憑藉八達通曾經在電子支付領域領先全球，可惜近年在金融科技、移動支付方面相對落後了，現在更應該抓緊與內地深度融入的機會追回失地。除了拓展內地應用的範圍，亦應該積極拓展國際市場。本港轉數快去年底實現與泰國PromptPay正式對接，令港人到泰國可用轉數快付款消費。在剛過去的農曆新年假期，用戶於泰國使用PromptPay的平均消費額較去年12月服務推出初期大增7倍。可見市民對海外跨境支付的需求十分殷切。

「全國通卡」的推出，是香港電子支付領域的一次突破嘗試，也是香港與內地「軟聯通」的一個縮影。我們期待八達通等電子支付工具能夠繼續創新、拓展，為港人帶來更加便捷、高效的支付體驗。

Octopus China T-Union Card benefits Hongkongers travelling north

【譯文】Octopus launched the "Octopus China T-Union Card" on 26 March 2024, which can be used to pay for public transport in 336 cities in Mainland China. The service marks a step forward in integrating small-value payments between Hong Kong and the Mainland, promoting further integration of daily life in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and making travel more convenient for Hong Kong residents, especially for the elderly who are accustomed to using Octopus. Octopus, along with other local e-payment tools in Hong Kong, should further improve their services, expand their usage scope in the Mainland, and accelerate the expansion of the overseas e-payment market, thereby expanding the radius of Hong Kong's e-payments.

At present, when travelling on public transport in the Mainland, Hong Kong residents have a variety of payment methods, such as making payment by scanning the QR code with AlipayHK or the Hong Kong version of WeChat Wallet. However, for older Hong Kong residents accustomed to using Octopus, "tapping the card" remains the most convenient option. The new "Octopus China T-Union Card" can cover 336 cities across the country in one go, allowing Hong Kong residents to travel north to most places without worrying about their basic transport needs.

Since its launch in 1997, Octopus has gradually expanded from initially being used for payments on public transport, such as buses and the MTR, to small-value payments at shops, restaurants and car parks. With the introduction of "China T-Union Card", Octopus has now achieved a breakthrough in cross-border usage, opening up a broader market and injecting new vitality into Hong Kong's e-payment industry. Apart from local residents, it is also frequently used by Mainland and overseas travellers.

However, there are many restrictions on the application and refund of Octopus card, leaving room for improvement. For example, the amount of Anonymous On-Loan Octopus cannot be recovered if it is lost, and some types of Octopus are subject to administrative fees if it is not used for a long period of time, which causes some inconvenience to travellers. In addition, the overall penetration rate of e-payment in Hong Kong still needs to be improved. Particularly in the market stall and taxi sectors, some elderly stall owners and drivers are accustomed to receiving cash and are somewhat resistant to e-payment.

With Octopus, Hong Kong once was a global leader in e-payment, but unfortunately, it has lagged in financial technology and mobile payment in recent years. Now it is time for Hong Kong to seize the opportunity to integrate more deeply with the Mainland and regain lost ground. Apart from expanding the scope of application in the Mainland, it should also actively develop the international market. At the end of last year, Hong Kong's Faster Payment System (FPS) was formally connected to Thailand's PromptPay, enabling Hong Kong residents to use FPS for payments in Thailand. During the past Chinese New Year holiday, the average consumption amount of users using PromptPay in Thailand increased sevenfold compared to the initial launch of the service in December last year. This shows that there is a strong demand for cross-border payments overseas.

The launch of the "Octopus China T-Union Card" represents a breakthrough in e-payment in Hong Kong, and a microcosm of the "soft connectivity" between Hong Kong and the Mainland. We look forward to Octopus and other e-payment tools continuing to innovate and expand, bringing a more convenient and efficient payment experience to Hong Kong residents.

◆ Tiffany