Octopus card facts for kids
The Octopus card (八達通 in Cantonese) is a special reusable card that lets you pay for things without using cash. It's like a digital wallet in Hong Kong! It started in September 1997 to pay for train and bus rides, but now you can use it for lots of other things, like buying snacks, paying for parking, and even getting into school buildings. Almost everyone in Hong Kong uses an Octopus card – about 98% of people aged 15 to 64! Every day, over 15 million payments are made with these cards.
The Octopus card system was one of the first of its kind in the world. Its success inspired similar payment cards in other big cities, like the Oyster card in London and the Navigo card in Paris. It even won an award in 2006 for being a leading payment system.
Adult version of the Octopus card since 2017
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| Location | Hong Kong |
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| Launched | 1 September 1997 |
| Technology |
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| Operator | Octopus Cards Limited |
| Currency | HKD (HK$3,000 maximum load) |
| Stored-value | Pay as you go |
| Auto recharge | Automatic Add Value Service (through credit cards) |
| Validity |
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| Octopus card | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 八達通 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 八达通 | ||||||||||||
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Contents
Octopus Card History
When Hong Kong's MTR train system started in 1979, it used special magnetic tickets. Later, other transport companies like KCR and bus companies also used similar tickets.
In 1993, the MTR company decided to use new "contactless smart cards." They teamed up with four other big transport companies in Hong Kong to create a new company called Creative Star Limited.
After three years of testing, the Octopus card was launched on 1 September 1997. It became popular very quickly! One reason was that people had to switch from old tickets to Octopus cards within three months. Another reason was a coin shortage in Hong Kong that year. People were holding onto their old coins, hoping they would become more valuable. This made it hard to pay for things with cash, so the Octopus card was a great solution.
By 2000, most bus trips were paid for using an Octopus card. It was much easier than trying to find exact change for the bus! By 2002, over 9 million cards had been given out.
In 2005, Octopus Cards Limited started "Octopus Rewards." This program lets cardholders earn points when they shop at certain stores, like Wellcome supermarkets or UA Cinemas. These points can then be used to pay for other things.
New Octopus cards with better security were released in 2015. If you had an older card, you could swap it for free. From January 2018, the very first generation cards stopped working.
Good news for travelers! Since March 2024, there's a new Octopus card version that can be used in 336 cities in mainland China.
What Does "Octopus" Mean?
The Cantonese name for the Octopus card is Baat Daaht Tùng (八達通). This means "eight-arrived pass" or "reaching everywhere." It was chosen in a competition in 1996. The number eight is important because it refers to all directions (north, south, east, west, and the in-between ones). In Chinese culture, the number eight is also considered very lucky and can sound like a phrase meaning "getting wealthy."
The English name "Octopus card" also relates to the number eight, since an octopus has eight tentacles! The logo on the card looks like an infinity symbol, which means something that goes on forever.
How to Use Your Octopus Card
The Octopus card was first made for paying for rides on the MTR. But soon, people started using it in many other places in Hong Kong. Today, you can use it on most public transport, in fast food restaurants, supermarkets, vending machines, and even for parking. Over 33 million Octopus cards are being used, and 99% of Hong Kong residents have one!
Big stores like PARKnSHOP, Wellcome, Watsons, 7-Eleven, Starbucks, and McDonald's quickly started accepting Octopus cards. The Hong Kong Government even changed its parking meters to accept Octopus cards.
Octopus cards are also used as access cards in buildings and schools. Some offices, homes, and schools need you to tap your Octopus card to get inside. It can even help schools keep track of student attendance!
Making Payments with Octopus
To pay with your Octopus card, you just hold it close to an Octopus card reader. The reader will make a "beep" sound, show you how much was taken off your card, and tell you your remaining balance. It's super fast – usually less than a second!
Paying for Public Transport
When you use the MTR, the system records where you start your journey. When you tap your card again at your exit station, it figures out how far you traveled and takes the correct amount from your card.
Using an Octopus card for MTR rides is often cheaper than buying a single ticket. For example, a trip from Chai Wan to Tung Chung costs less with an Octopus card. Other bus and ferry companies also offer discounts if you use your Octopus card.
Paying for Taxis
Octopus card payments in taxis started being tested in 2006. In 2018, Octopus Cards Limited tried again with a new mobile app for taxi drivers. This app lets drivers accept payments by tapping a passenger's Octopus card or by scanning a QR code.
In 2020, a smaller Octopus Mobile POS device was launched. This was very helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it allowed people to pay without touching cash. By July 2021, over 15,000 taxi drivers were using it!
Using Octopus Outside Hong Kong
The Octopus card can even be used in some places outside Hong Kong! In August 2006, some Fairwood restaurants in Shenzhen, China, started accepting Octopus cards. Later, some Café de Coral restaurants there also joined. You can't add money to your card in Shenzhen, but if you have the "Automatic Add Value Service," money can be added from your credit card.
In December 2006, two Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in Macau also started taking Octopus cards. Just like in Shenzhen, you can't top up your card in Macau.
Today, other cards like Shenzhen Tong and Macau Pass are widely used in those cities. There's even a special "Hu Tong Xing" card that combines Shenzhen Tong and Hong Kong Octopus!
Checking Balance and Adding Money
How to Check Your Balance
You can check your Octopus card balance and your last ten payments at special enquiry machines in all MTR stations. Some MTR stations also have Octopus Service Points. You can also use the Octopus app on your phone to check your balance and up to three months of transactions. After each payment, the card reader usually shows your remaining balance and how much was deducted.
How to Add Money (Top-up)
You can add money to your Octopus card in many ways. You can add money in amounts of HK$50 at "Add Value Machines" in MTR stations (these only take cash). You can also add cash at many stores like PARKnSHOP, Wellcome, 7-Eleven, and McDonald's.
There's also an "Automatic Add Value Service" (AAVS). If your card balance goes below zero, this service automatically adds money from your credit card. You can set it to add HK$150, HK$250, or HK$500 each time.
The "O! ePay" mobile app, also run by Octopus, lets you move money between your phone and your Octopus card, even small amounts like 10 cents!
An Octopus card can hold up to HK$3000. If you use your card and don't have enough money, it can go into a small negative balance (up to HK$35 or HK$50, depending on when your card was issued). You'll need to add money before you can use it again.
Getting a Refund
You can return your Octopus card at any MTR Customer Service Centre to get your remaining money back. There might be a small fee if you return an anonymous card that's been used for less than 90 days. If your card is damaged, there's a HK$30 fee.
Since October 2020, if you have an "On-Loan Adult Octopus" card (issued after October 2017) and don't use it for three years (no payments or top-ups), a HK$15 "Inactive Octopus Administrative Fee" will be charged each year.
Different Types of Octopus Cards
There are two main types of Octopus cards: On-Loan cards and Sold cards. There are also a couple of special types for tourists and airport staff.
Main Types of Cards
On-Loan Cards
On-Loan cards are the most common type for everyday use. They come in different categories: Child, Adult, Elder, and Personalised. These are based on age and offer different discounts on fares. Most On-Loan cards are anonymous, meaning they don't store your personal information. If you lose one, only the money on the card is lost. You can buy these cards at MTR stations and some bus/ferry customer service centers.
| Type | Colour | Cost and use |
|---|---|---|
| Adult |
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This is the standard Octopus card. It costs HK$150 and comes with HK$100 already on it. |
| Child |
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For children aged 3 to 12. It costs HK$70 and comes with HK$20. Children get discounted fares where available. |
| Elder |
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For senior citizens aged 65 or above. They get government-subsidized fares, often costing only HK$2 per trip. It costs HK$70 and comes with HK$20. |
| Personalised |
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This card has your name printed on it (and a photo if you want). It costs HK$100 with HK$30 initial value and a HK$20 handling fee.
These cards can be reported if lost, and you might get a refund of the money left on the card. |
Sold Cards
Unlike On-Loan cards, Sold cards are special edition cards. They often have cool designs featuring cartoon characters or celebrating Chinese holidays like Chinese New Year. These cards are usually sold at a higher price and might have little or no money on them to start. You can't get a refund for the card itself, but you can use them like regular Octopus cards. An example is the McMug and McDull collection. You can buy Sold Octopus cards at some MTR stations and all 7-Eleven stores.
Other Octopus Products
Octopus Cards Limited also sells other items that work like Octopus cards, such as watches and mobile phone covers. You can just wave these items over a card reader to pay. They can be topped up like regular cards, but not at the Add Value Machines because of their shape.
There are also Mini Octopus cards (smaller than regular cards) and Child Octopus Wristbands. These work just like the regular cards but are designed to be more fun or convenient.
Special-Purpose Cards
The Airport Express Tourist Octopus is made for tourists visiting Hong Kong. It includes free rides on the Airport Express train and unlimited MTR rides for three days. It also has a refundable deposit. These cards are only for tourists staying 14 days or less.
The MTR Airport Staff Octopus is for staff working at Hong Kong International Airport. It gives them discounted fares on the Airport Express.
Some banks in Hong Kong have even put the Octopus card function into their ATM and credit cards!
Octopus on Your Phone
You can also use Octopus on your smartphone!
- Samsung Pay: Since December 2017, you can add a "Smart Octopus" to your Samsung phone. You can transfer your existing card or buy a new one in the app. You just tap your phone on the reader to pay.
- Apple Pay: Since June 2020, Octopus cards can be added to Apple Pay. This works on iPhone 8 and newer models, and Apple Watch 3 and newer. You can create a new virtual card or transfer your physical card. It uses "Express Transit," so you don't even need to unlock your phone to pay!
- Huawei Pay: Since December 2020, Octopus can be added to Huawei Pay, but only on Huawei phones sold in Hong Kong, Macau, and China.
How Octopus Technology Works
The Octopus card system was developed by an Australian company called ERG Group (now Vix Technology). The Octopus card uses a special chip called Sony FeliCa. It's a "contactless" system, meaning you just hold the card close to the reader without touching it. This technology is very fast, allowing payments to happen almost instantly.
The Octopus system is designed so that payments are recorded and then sent to a central system later, not in real-time. This means readers don't always need to be connected to the internet. For example, on buses, data might be collected later using handheld devices or a wireless system.
Security of Octopus Cards
The Octopus card uses encryption to keep your information safe when it talks to the reader. The card and reader check each other to make sure they are real before sharing any data. This helps prevent unauthorized use. As of 2003, the Octopus card system had never been hacked.
Octopus card readers have a safety feature that stops them from working if more than one card is detected at once. This is to prevent accidental payments.
Who Runs Octopus?
The Octopus card system is owned and run by Octopus Cards Limited. This company was first called Creative Star Limited in 1994 and changed its name in 2002.
Octopus Cards Limited is part of a bigger company called Octopus Holdings Limited. Because it handles payments, Octopus Cards Limited is watched over by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to make sure it's safe and fair.
The company is owned by five transport companies in Hong Kong, with MTR Corporation being the biggest owner. The Government of Hong Kong owns a large part of the MTR Corporation, so the government is the biggest shareholder of Octopus Holdings Limited.
Awards for Octopus
The Octopus card is famous around the world! It won the Chairman's Award at the World Information Technology and Services Alliance's 2006 Global IT Excellence Awards. It was recognized for being a leading and innovative payment system.
Issues and Improvements
Payment Glitches
In February 2007, there was a problem where some customers' bank accounts were charged even if their payment was cancelled at self-service machines. Octopus Cards Limited investigated and found that about HK$3.7 million had been wrongly deducted in over 15,000 cases since 2000. The company worked with banks to refund the money. Because of this, Octopus permanently stopped using EPS (Electronic Payment Services) for adding value to cards.
New Technology
Some people have wondered why Octopus has been slow to adopt new technologies like QR code payments, especially since these are very popular in mainland China. The CEO of Octopus, Sunny Cheung, has said that new technologies, including QR code payments and integration with Samsung Pay and Apple Pay, would be launched soon.
Images for kids
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Octopus reader at an MTR ticket gate
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Octopus card reader of a self-payment kiosk at a McDonald's restaurant in Hong Kong
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Octopus card enquiry and add value machine in Mong Kok station in 2017.
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An Octopus Card reader installed on a bus operated by Kowloon Motor Bus Company
See also
In Spanish: Tarjeta Octopus para niños
- Digital currency
- List of public transport smart cards
