In South Korea, public transportation is well-developed, allowing for easy transfers between subways, buses, and more with just one card. Most debit or credit cards can also be equipped with prepaid transportation card functions.
Even without a credit or debit card, there are rechargeable transportation cards like the “T-money” card in South Korea, providing convenient access to public transportation.
“Hong Kong Transport Card: Octopus Card”
In Hong Kong, you can find a card similar to South Korea’s T-money transportation card. It is known as the Octopus Card in English and, in Chinese, it goes by the name “八达通” (Baat Daat Toong), which means “eight-reaching pass.” This name was chosen because the number 8 in Chinese sounds similar to the word for wealth, signifying prosperity.
“Similar to the UK’s Oyster Card, Hong Kong’s Octopus Card”
Hong Kong’s Octopus Card bears resemblance to the UK’s Oyster Card. Hong Kong was once under British rule, and as a result, a similar system is implemented, which can be seen in operation.
Similar to South Korea’s T-money card, the Octopus Card can be used for payments at various locations, including Hong Kong’s MTR subway, trams, ferries, buses, taxis, and even stores like 7-Eleven, Starbucks, and drugstores. In my experience, most stores in Hong Kong have Octopus Card readers installed.
“Method of Purchasing an Octopus Card”
You can purchase an Octopus Card at various locations. At Hong Kong Airport, you can buy one at the “AEL” counter, and they are also available at MTR service centers throughout Hong Kong. When purchased at these locations, the price is HKD 150, which includes a deposit. Of this, HKD 50 is a deposit, which can be refunded later. Please note that there is a HKD 9 fee for the refund process, so you will receive HKD 100 back. This amount can be used immediately after being charged.
While you can also buy an Octopus Card at convenience stores, in this case, you won’t receive the deposit back upon refund, only the remaining balance. To put it simply, when you purchase the card from AEL or MTR, it’s more like renting the Octopus Card, while buying from convenience stores is akin to a full purchase.
“Usage of up to HKD -50 with the Octopus Card”
The Octopus Card in Hong Kong allows you to use up to -50 Hong Kong dollars. There’s a condition, though: you can only use up to -50 Hong Kong dollars if your current balance is positive. If there’s even a tiny amount like 0.1 Hong Kong dollar in your card, you can make a purchase of 50 Hong Kong dollars, going as low as -49.9 Hong Kong dollars. However, if your existing balance is -0.1 Hong Kong dollar, you won’t be able to make a purchase.
The reason you can use the card up to -50 Hong Kong dollars is because you paid a 50 Hong Kong dollar deposit when purchasing the card.
“Method of Charging the Octopus Card”
The easiest way to charge your Octopus Card is at an MTR station in Hong Kong. You can find a device called the “Add Value Machine” at subway stations, which allows you to recharge your card. The minimum recharge amount is 50 Hong Kong dollars, and you can only recharge with 50 and 100 Hong Kong dollar bills.
Charging is also possible at convenience stores. After making a purchase, you can choose to load your change onto the Octopus Card. If you want to recharge without buying anything, you’ll need to load a minimum of 100 Hong Kong dollars.
“Maximum Charging Amount for the Octopus Card”
The Octopus Card has a maximum charging limit of 1,000 Hong Kong dollars, which is approximately 150,000 Korean won.
Furthermore, if 1,000 days have passed since your last recharge, the card will automatically enter a state of suspension. However, even in this suspended state, the balance on your card will be preserved. To use the card again, you can either have it reactivated at an MTR service center or request a refund.
When traveling in Hong Kong and encountering various means of transportation like the MTR, buses, trams, ferries, etc., having an Octopus Card will make things much more convenient. I highly recommend getting one when traveling in Hong Kong.
“Usage of up to HKD -50 with the Octopus Card”
The Octopus Card in Hong Kong allows you to use up to -50 Hong Kong dollars. There’s a condition, though: you can only use up to -50 Hong Kong dollars if your current balance is positive. If there’s even a tiny amount like 0.1 Hong Kong dollar in your card, you can make a purchase of 50 Hong Kong dollars, going as low as -49.9 Hong Kong dollars. However, if your existing balance is -0.1 Hong Kong dollar, you won’t be able to make a purchase.
The reason you can use the card up to -50 Hong Kong dollars is because you paid a 50 Hong Kong dollar deposit when purchasing the card.