HONG KONG - AlipayHK will be incorporated into the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme of Hong Kong with effect from Jan 1, 2025, allowing residents in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region an extra electronic payment option besides Octopus.

The announcement was made on Thursday by the Transport Department of the HKSAR government, assuring that subsidy calculation for AlipayHK users will be the same as those using Octopus.

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Public transport coverage of AlipayHK under the scheme includes the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) railway services (except Airport Express, Light Rail and MTR Buses), franchised buses (including Citybus, KMB, Long Win Bus and New Lantao Bus), trams, 11 designated ferry routes and 175 designated green minibus routes.

When members of the public traveling on major public transport services pay for single journey fares with AlipayHK EasyGo or take the MTR services by using the QR Code on the "MTR Mobile" application with AlipayHK as the payment source, the relevant fares will be eligible for the calculation of public transport fare subsidies, the release said.

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The HKSAR government will provide a subsidy amounting to one-third of the actual monthly public transport expenses in excess of HK$400 (about $51.5), subject to a maximum of HK$400 per month for each AlipayHK account, it added.

Noting that AlipayHK is the first e-wallet to be included in Hong Kong's public transportation subsidy program, AlipayHK CEO Venetia Lee said that digitizing the receipt of public transportation subsidies not only provides practical and convenient choices for citizens but also enhances the image of Hong Kong as a smart city.