Another digital wallet service has landed in Hong Kong, with Android Pay following three months after the launch of Apple Pay.
Android’s touchless payment system is available at more than 5000 locations including 7-Eleven, Circle K, Fortress, Mannings, Maxim’s Cakes, McDonald’s, MX, Pacific Coffee, ParkNshop, SmarTone, Watsons and Wellcome.
Hong Kong is the ninth market for Apple Pay, which is now compatible with American Express, Visa and MasterCard credit cards from Bank of China (Hong Kong), DBS, Hang Seng, HSBC and Standard Chartered. It launched with more than 40 participating merchants including 7-Eleven, ParkNshop, Pizza Hut, Mannings, Sa Sa and Wellcome. Apple Pay also works with apps from Casetify, Cathay Pacific Mobile, Deliveroo, Foodpanda, HBX, Homeaway, Kickstarter, Klook, RedSol and SnapTee.
Hong Kong is the third Asia Pacific region to roll out Android Pay following Singapore and Australia. It is available through Mastercard in conjunction with such card-issuing institutions as Dah Sing Bank, DBS Bank, Hang Seng Bank, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank and The Bank of East Asia.
A MasterCard survey has shown that two in five HongKongers shop on their smartphones.
“With Android Pay, local consumers can now make payment securely and with ease, both in-store and in-app,” says Mastercard division president Hiang Choong.
Once the Android Pay app is installed and the account setup process complete, MasterCard cards can be added for secure payments made by holding an active smartphone near a payment terminal.
Caroline Ada, country manager of Visa Hong Kong and Macau, says with a mobile subscriber penetration rate reaching 227.9 per cent and nearly 17 million mobile subscribers in Hong Kong, it is natural for people to use mobiles for payments.
“With the introduction of Android Pay, it will help displace cash and propel electronic payments in the city. Visa is pleased to work with Google to introduce Android Pay, enabled by Visa Token Service for secure payments,” she said
“Hongkongers love mobile – with 79 per cent owning a smartphone – and are some of the fastest adopters of new products and technology in the world,” added Leonie Valentine, MD of sales and operations with Google Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, mobile app merchants can minimise their cart abandonment rate as customers can skip filling out shipping and billing details manually.