New mode of MTR fare payment

MTR passengers will be able to pay their fare by tapping their contactless credit card or mobile e-wallet at the gate from December 23.

Each heavy rail station, except Airport Express station, at least two ticket gates have been set up for contactless bank card payment, while stations which tourists usually visit, including Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Admiralty and Exhibition Centre, have more new gates.

The entry and exit gates with the new payment service will be wrapped in light-blue color and a signage for easy identification.

Fares using contactless bank card payment will be calculated based on adult rates.

Concessionary tickets, Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme, Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities and other MTR fare promotions are not applicable.

Managing director of Hong Kong Transport Services of MTRC Jeny Yeung Mei-chun said the launch of the contactless bank card payment service aims to make travel easier for overseas tourists.

"Since Visa credit cards are used for payment in different overseas places, the gate machine can provide tourists more options and a better experience," she said.

Yeung added that the launch of the contactless credit card payment service took more time than other MTR services because of the large number of ticket gates and stations, making it more complicated.

"Like the case of QR code payment, it takes us longer to complete because of our extensive network, so is the case for Visa," she said.

Lutricia Kwok Sin-man, head of marketing for Visa Hong Kong and Macau, said the new service attached great importance to the popularity and wide use of electronic payments.

Following the launch of the contactless bank card payment service, the MTR now provides diverse payment options, including Octopus, QR code and single journey smart ticket.

The MTR expects to be able to adopt more credit card payment turnstiles in the third quarter of 2024, with two ticket gates providing the service at each exit in each station. The aim is to have about one-third of ticket gates at all stations providing contactless card payment by 2028.

Credit card ride services will be incorporated at the Airport Express as early as 2026.

The MTR plans to upgrade over 2,400 ticket gates and some of the machines and integrate e-payment at the customer service centers.

In March, The Standard reported that some tourists found it difficult taking the MTR due to the outdated ticket machines that did not accept credit cards.

Tourists are unable to buy tickets from machines that only accept small banknotes or obtain an Octopus card without the local currency after exiting the Airport Express train at the Hong Kong station.

Although passengers can buy Airport Express tickets with a credit card at customer service centers or ticket machines in all Airport Express stations, they said it is difficult for them to get a single-journey ticket to other stations without small banknotes.

MTRC said it is enhancing the ticketing system that accept credit cards in the future.