More than simply ease of transport

The future is here. Enter any of Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway (MTR) stations for the first time, and you will see waves of people flocking through automated turnstiles without ever paying a dime. Beeps, one after another, sound as each person passes. The process is quick, easy, effortless, and without long queues thanks to the advent of the Octopus Card. Yet transport is only the beginning of the all-powerful metro pass.

Introduced in 1997, the Octopus Card is the world's fore-most multi-purpose smartcard payment system. The device is the same size as a business card, fitting neatly into holders' wallets, and a new and improved Mini Octopus has just been launched. According to Octopus Holding Limited, "Today, more than 15 million Octopus are in circulation, and the system handles over 10 million transactions a day, with transaction value exceeding HK$78 million". This means there is more than double the amount of Octopus cards than there are residents in Hong Kong.

The stored-value cards are tremendously flexible, accepted at over 446 service providers, from public transport to fast food outlets, vending machines, convenience stores, supermarkets, school facilities, and building access. Simply purchase the card at customer service counters at the Airport Express or MTR stations and swipe it on the well-marked yellow Octopus pads. The fare is automatically deducted, eliminating the needfor individual tickets.

The "wave and go" Octopus system has now been around for a decade, while other cities like London are just getting used to the practice of cash-free, contactless payment. Today experts from Octopus act as consultants for striving overseas operations of the same kind, but you can be sure that theOctopus system in Hong Kong will stay one step ahead.