Editorial | Octopus lands in Japan to delight of HK visitors
Hong Kong’s Octopus is extending its tentacles further overseas.The electronic payment system is working with other platforms in Japan to enable users to settle transactions with its mobile phone application as early as the third quarter of this year. The move will enhance travel convenience and is to be welcomed.This is not the first time the home-grown technology has ventured out, having launched Thailand’s PromptPay payment in its app in 2023 and Zero Pay in South Korea last year.Users have to first top up their e-wallet, from which the payment amount will be deducted via scanning a QR code.Last year, the company also rolled out a new Octopus card that allows users to top up in Hong Kong dollars here and tap for rides in public transport across 336 mainland cities.It makes sense for Japan to be the next destination for Octopus. The country welcomed more than 36.8 million tourists last year, with 7.2 per cent or 2.68 million from Hong Kong, ranking the city fourth after South Korea, mainland China and Taiwan as a source of visitors, according to the country’s National Tourism Organisation.
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