Hong Kong Octopus Card

Octopus Card, like the MetroCard in New York City and the Oyster Card in London, is a multi-usage smart card charging for the public transportation in Hong Kong. First used on 1st September, 1997, when it was only used on bus and MTR. Later the range expanded to many places such as stores, restaurants, parking lots and later as entrance card to schools, office buildings and residential buildings. Octopus is one of the earliest and most successful electronic currencies in the world. At present, there are three types of Octopus Card for residents and visitors, these are On-Loan Octopus, Sold Octopus and Airport Express Travel Pass.
 

It is lent by Octopus Card Limited to you. You are required to pay a refundable deposit that covers the card cost and possible negative value. There are two kinds of on-loan Octopus Card: Standard and Personalized.

	Standard			Personalized
	Child	Adult	Elder	--
Deposit	HK$50	HK$50	HK$50	HK$50
Initial Stored Value	HK$20	HK$100	HK$20	HK$30
Handling Charge	--	--	--	HK$20
Fare Concession Eligibility	Age 3-11	No Concession	Varies among Transport Companies	Automatic

 This is a specially designed Octopus Card sold to you. It has no useable value when you buy it, holds no deposit and can not be refunded unless you add value to it. Any remaining value on it is refundable. The Sold Octopus Card Cards have more delicate designs and their selling prices are a bit higher. It includes Octopus Card Ornaments, Special Edition Octopus Card, Licensed Octopus Card Products and Octopus Card for Corporations.
 Airport Express Travel Pass is an Octopus Card with either one or two Airport Express single journey(s) plus 3 consecutive days of unlimited travel on MTR (except East Rail Line First Class, Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations), Light Rail and MTR Bus (Northwest New Territories).
 

Standard Octopus can be bought at following places:
1. MTR Customer Service Centres: All stations (except Racecourse station)
2. Light Rail Customer Service Centres: Ferry Pier Terminus, Leung King, Town Centre, Yuen Long Terminus, Tin Yat, Siu Hong and Tin Shui Wai stations
3. KMB Customer Service Centre: Sha Tin Central Bus Terminus
4. New World First Ferry Octopus Card Service Centres: Piers of Cheung Chau, Mui Wo, Peng Chau, Central Piers 5 & 6
5. New World First Bus Customer Service Centre: Admiralty (East) Bus Terminus
 

Personalized Octopus Card could be obtained by applying. You can either obtain an application form from the official website of Octopus Card or Service Centres. After completing the form, return it in person to any one of the Customer Service Centres mentioned below to complete the application procedure. To get a Personalized Octopus Card, you need to pay HK$100, which includes HK$50 refundable deposit, HK$30 initial stored value and HK$20 handling fee. Here is the list of Service Centres:
1. MTR Customer Service Centres: Chai Wan, Choi Hung, Diamond Hill, Hung Hom, Kwai Hing, Lai Chi Kok, Lam Tin, Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau, Quarry Bay (Taikoo Place), Sai Wan Ho, Sha Tin, Sheung Shui, Tai Wo Hau, Tung Chung and Yau Tong stations 
2. Light Rail Customer Service Centres: Ferry Pier Terminus, Leung King, Town Centre, Yuen Long Terminus, Tin Yat and Tin Shui Wai stations 
3. New World First Ferry Octopus Card Service Centres at Central Piers 5 & 6
4. Sold Octopus Card can be obtained through different ways, mostly they are sold in the licensed stores or on-line.
 

If you take a bus by Octopus Card, you need to swipe it both when getting on and getting off the bus. And when entering and exiting metro, you are supposed to swipe the card. If you wanna buy something by the card, just swipe it when you check out.
 

Octopus can be used in Hong Kong as well as some stores in Macau and Shenzhen. In Hong Kong, it can be used on transportation, retailing stores, parking, self-service, leisure facilities and access control and other places like some hospitals and schools displaying the Octopus logo ('∞', like a number 8 on its side). In Macau, it can be used in the KFC in Rua do Campo and Sands Casino. In Shenzhen, it can be used in Fairwood Fast Food, Café de Coral Shenzhen Duty-free Group Stores displaying the Octopus Logo.
Tips:
1. The exchange rate for Renminbi (RMB) transactions in Shenzhen is set by the individual merchant.
2. The exchange rate for Pataca transactions in Macau is 1 MOP to HK$1.
 

Balance appears whenever you make a purchase. Users can also check their last 10 transactions at the following places:
 At Octopus Enquiry Machines at MTR stations 
 By requesting a printout at an MTR Customer Service Centre and 7-Eleven or Circle-K outlet (a HK$3 fee will be charged by these service providers.) 
 Using a PCCW eye device 
 Using an Octopus PC Reader
 

Your Octopus can be reloaded up to HK$1,000 in total value at thousands of locations throughout Hong Kong by cash. You can reload at the following places: 
 Authorized Add Value Service Providers, such as convenience stores, supermarkets, fast-food chains. 
 Any Customer Service Centres of MTR, Airport Express Line and Light Rail.
 KMB Customer Service Centre at the Sha Tin Central Bus Terminus 
 New World First Ferry Octopus Service Centres at the piers on Cheung Chau, Mui Wo and Peng Chau and at Central piers 5 and 6 
 New World First Bus Customer Service Centre at the Admiralty (East) Bus Terminus 
 Citybus Customer Service Centre at the Central Exchange Square Bus Terminus 
Add Value Machines at MTR and selected Light Rail Stations.
Electronic fund transfer at selected ATMs of the AEON ATM network (applicable to AEON Credit Card holders only).
 

For On-Loan Octopus (both Standard and Personalized), you can go to any MTR Customer Service Centre to apply for a refund of your remaining value. If the remaining value is less than HK$500, you will receive an on-the-spot refund of your HK$50 deposit (applicable to Standard On-Loan Octopus only) and the remaining value, if any. If you want to refund the remaining value in Sold Octopus, you need to call 2266 2222 for assistance, your Octopus will be checked at the office. In the following situations, the Octopus will be sent back to Octopus Cards Limited for refund processing and they will notify you of the refund arrangement within seven working days of your application:
 An On-Loan Octopus is damaged
 The remaining value is more than HK$500
 You have a Personalized Octopus

 Tips:
1. If the Octopus Card has been damaged or altered, you need to pay HK$30 to get back your remaining value and the deposit (Includes damage or alteration through delaminating, bending, cutting, breaking, graffiti or attachment of stickers or photos).
2. If you apply for a refund within three months of issue, you need to pay HK$7 for Standard Octopus Card.
3. You need to pay HK$10 for Personalized Octopus Card refunding.
 

After customs clearance, you will see an Airport Express Customer Service Center at the arrival hall, where you can buy the card. You need to pay HKD150 in total, HKD50 for refundable deposit. As for refund, all the customer service centers in metro stations can refund the card. Also, you can choose to return it at the airport. If the card is returned 90 days after the day of issue, HK$9 service fee will be charged.  
 

The app is developed by Octopus Card Limited. Same with the card, the app can be used to pay on the bus, metro and the designated shops. Besides, you can use the app to top up, check balance, transaction record and some other data. The procedures of using are as follows:
1. Download the app at Goggle Play.
2. To use it, you may need to follow the guide to start the NFC.
3. Input the number of the card and choose its use of check the balance and pay.
4. Choose the button of pay online and open QR code scanner. Put the card on the device until the receipt displays. If the pay does not succeed, it will return to your account automatically.
5. You can also check and delete the data of the receipt.