Octopus

First generation of Octopus

"The Octopus Card" ('Octopus), an automatic ticketing system for public transport, is now one of the major tokenized electronic transaction systems in Hong Kong. The "Octopus Card" is one of the media under the Octopus system. Most Hong Kong citizens have Octopus cards to take various public transport.

New Generation Octopus

The Octopus fare collector is one of the mediums of exchange under the Octopus system. Because the Octopus card can be used for transactions without directly touching the fare collection device, it is very convenient. It is widely used in Hong Kong, and its functions have been extended to small-amount shopping, parking lot payment, and residential security systems.

New Generation Octopus

Historical Background

MTR Co., Ltd. Since its opening to traffic in 1979, Ticket Collection System adopts magnetic card automatic operation, one-way and stored value] Tickets are all plastic cards with tapes attached, and operate in a closed system.

Deployment using electronic tickets

In 1992, the MTR considered testing a new electronic fare collection system to replace the stored-value tickets used at that time; the system could also be extended to other means of transportation. At the time, people had to buy separate tickets when transferring between different modes of public transportation.

The electronic toll collection system is recommended by British Cubic to MTRCL. The system includes a permanent electronic ticket (smart card), a high-sensitivity electronic entry gate, and an electronic ticket extension machine for passengers. The business manager of the company's Pacific region said on May 22 that the system can be used only by adding an additional set of electronic induction devices to the existing toll system; and the electronic ticket worth HK$5 is replaced every five years. It can be used 100,000 times, which is more cost-effective than magnetic tape tickets, which can only be used about 10 times. The cost of the device is also cheaper than that of magnetic ticket reading and writing devices (the installation cost is about 2% of the existing design). At that time, the relevant ticket was being tested in London, England by Transport for London, and Washington Metro Area Transit Authority in the United States, was considering adopting it.

The area of the brand-new electronic ticket is similar to that of a stored-value ticket, but it is thicker than the plastic stored-value ticket, and a micro battery, electronic sensing device and more recorded data are installed inside. Passengers only need to pass the sensor installed in the gate before entering the gate, and put it within two inches of the relevant device to enter the gate, and the fare will be deducted automatically by the fare system; during the process, the ticket will not leave the holder. The fare storage data can also be added or subtracted at will, which is more flexible than stored-value tickets. In addition, the sensor of the electronic ticket is more sensitive, and even if it is placed in a briefcase or handbag, it can generate an instant response, so passengers do not need to take out the ticket before entering the gate, which is more convenient than stored-value tickets.

When asked by the media, the manager of the automatic toll collection system of the Mass Transit Railway Corporation said that he had been paying attention to the technological development of the electronic ticket system as early as 1990. At that time, he believed that it had reached a mature stage and was very interested in smart cards, so he considered introducing such systems. It also means that the reliability of the magnetic ticket system will decrease after dozens of uses; and the magnetic toll system involves mechanical devices, and the failure rate will be relatively high. In addition, the turnstiles at that time were designed to handle 48 people per minute, and it took half a second for the operation of the magnetic tape to exit the gates; since the electronic tickets can be sensed without contact, the time required is relatively short. What's more, if such an electronic toll collection system is introduced, the reliability of the ticket and toll collection system will be greatly improved.

Expansion

In 1993, MTR reviewed the fare collection system and conceived a long-term development strategy, and confirmed that the contactless smart card technology was the best platform for the next-generation integrated fare collection system. In the following year, it cooperated with 4 other public transportation operators, including Kowloon-Canton Railway Company, Kowloon Bus, Citybus and Hong Kong & Yaumatei Ferry Co. Ltd jointly formed "Creative Star Ltd". The company is a non-profit-making organization, established to promote a new universal ticket system - Octopus, responsible for monitoring the development and implementation of Octopus cards, but China Motor Bus did not participate in it.

Octopus is an electronic toll collection system using a contactless smart card, combined with a chip developed by Japan's Sony Electronics, and Australia's ERG transportation system technology . When the user puts the card within 10 cm of the fare collector, the required amount will be automatically deducted from the card in just 0.3 seconds. No cash is required, which is simple and convenient. The name of the smart card used in the system is Octopus. This ingenious name is actually the winner of the 1996 name competition, which was selected by the then chairman of the MTR Corporation. Its logo is designed as a slanted Möbius strip, which looks like the Arabic numeral "8" and the symbol "∞" representing infinity, to show infinite functions.

After three years of testing, this convenient common ticketing system was officially launched on September 1, 1997, initially applicable to East Rail and Light Rail, Light Rail Feeder Bus, KMB and Citybus part of MTR's Cross-Harbour Tunnel Route, and Hong Kong & Yau Ma Tei Ferry Peng Chau-Central route.

In order to explore the unlimited commercial potential of Octopus, Lian Junda applied for a "Deposit-taking Company" license from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and was granted the license in April 2000, allowing it to expand its business to non-transportation services.

In January 2001, Hong Kong Ferry, which gave up operating general ferries, transferred its shares to New World First Bus, which became New World First Ferry. Octopus Holdings Limited was established in 2005, and its shareholders are major transportation organizations in Hong Kong. In addition to operating Octopus cards, it also provides derivative businesses related to Octopus cards. Octopus Cards Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Octopus Holdings.

Application

Today, almost all public transportation services in Hong Kong accepts Octopus for payment, including MTR, ferry, franchised buses, resident buses, coaches, green minibuses , Hong Kong Tramway, Peak Tramway, etc. Moreover, at present, most of the free transfers and interchange discounts of public transport must be paid with Octopus in order to enjoy the relevant discounts.

In addition to public transportation services, the business has expanded to car parks, parking meters, retail and restaurant chain stores, self-service, public recreational facilities, etc.

Types of Octopus

Currently, there are five types of Octopus: On-Loan (Children, Adults, Elderly and Personalized Octopus, Joy You Card), Sold, Bank-issued, Octopus Mobile SIM and Octopus Mobile.

• On-loan Octopus is lent by the company to customers. Customers are required to pay a refundable deposit to cover the cost of the card and a one-time backup amount when the remaining value in the card is insufficient.
• Sold Octopus is an Octopus specially designed for sale to customers without deposit.
• The bank-issued Octopus is a card or product with an Octopus function issued by a recognized bank or financial service company, such as Citibank’s “Citi Octopus Platinum Credit Card” .
• Octopus Mobile SIM is a mobile phone SIM card with Octopus function added. Just use a mobile phone that has passed the Octopus test and has NFC (Near Field Communication) function, and can play the two functions of Octopus and mobile communication at the same time.
• Mobile Octopus is purchased through approved mobile devices as an online payment method or transferred to a mobile device with a handheld physical card or Personalized Octopus , Customers need to pay a refundable deposit to cover the cost of the card and a one-time backup amount when the remaining value of the virtual card is insufficient.

On-Loan

Except for Personalized Octopus or Loyalty Card which must be applied in the designated way, all on-loan Octopus can be purchased at MTR Customer Service Centers, Sun Ferry customers and Octopus service stations, { {b|Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port}} bus terminus Template:B ticket office or at designated stations from the self-service vending machines outside the fare-paid area.

type	Card surface Colour	sale price	Deposit	First deposit	Handling fee	age-appropriate/remarks
Adult	Orange (Early Edition) Rainbow (Later Edition) Grey (20th Anniversary onwards)||$150||$50||$100 $150	---	Suitable for anyone . Only the target audience is passengers aged 12-64 who pay adult fares. Children aged 3-11 and elders aged 65 or above (or Hong Kong residents aged 60 and above) will not be able to enjoy the discounted fare when using an adult Octopus card.
Children	Pink (original version) Light blue(from the 20th anniversary Use)	$70 $100	$50	$20. Child Octopus cannot be used at Racecourse Station.
Senior	Green	$70 $100 $150||$50||$20 $50 $100||---||style="text-align:left" |MTR, KMB, New World Bus, Citybus and First Ferry: aged 65 or above Guanzhong Bus: 60 years old or above
Student	Purple	$100	$50	$50	---	Discontinued on 2005November 1 issued, replaced by the "Student Status" Personalized Octopus.
Personal	Color Gray (used from the 20th anniversary)	$200	$50	$130	$20	>The back of the card will have the cardholder's name and an optional photo printed on it. Passengers aged 60-64 can enjoy a half-price discount on Template:B non-sea routes (except Lantau routes), Shatin City One residents’ buses and Shenzhen Bay routes (2022 February 26 ago). Applicable to the security system of commercial or residential buildings, cardholders can also enjoy the lost Octopus reporting service. Apply at the designated MTRCustomer Service Center.
Personal "Student Status"	Color Grey (use from 20th anniversary)	$90	$50	$20	$20	Only for eligible students aged 12-25 See Student Travel Discount Scheme for details
Individual "Disability Status"	Color Gray (use from 20th anniversary)	$50	$50	---	---	Only available for qualified disabled under 64 years old People apply For details, please refer to Fare Promotion Program for Persons with Disabilities Tapping the card on the International Rehabilitation Day every year will not deduct the fare. (Peak Tram, Tram, ferry, Island Bus and designated green minibus routes are excluded.)
Personalized "JoyYou Card"	Gray	---	$50	---	---	Only for for Hong Kong residents over the age of 60 years old For details, see JoyYou Card
Temporary "Student Status"	Color Gray (use from 20th anniversary)	$70	$50	$20	---	Only for eligible students aged 12-25 1. After applying for student discount a) before receiving their personal card; or b) purchasing before their personal card activates the student discount (only once, and the application receipt must be presented for stamping confirmation); 2. The report of loss has recorded " 3. If the personal card with "student status" cannot be used, present the ID card before receiving the personal card to purchase.
Temporary "Disability Status"	Color Grey (use from 20th anniversary)	$70	$50	$20	---	Only for qualified disabled persons aged 12-64 1. Purchase before collecting the personal card after reporting the loss of the personal card with the "identity of the disabled person"; or 2. It has been recorded that the "identity of the disabled" personal card cannot be used, and the ID card should be presented before receiving the personal card to purchase .
Temporary for children "Disability Status"	Color Gray (use from 20th anniversary)	$70	$50	$20	---	Only for qualified disabled persons aged 3-11 1. Report the loss of the personal card with the "identity of the disabled" and purchase it before receiving the personal card; or 2. It has recorded the "identity of the disabled" "If the personal card cannot be used, present the ID card to purchase before receiving the personal card.

Octopus Mobile SIM

Octopus Mobile SIM is a mobile phone SIM card with Octopus function attached. For this to work, your smartphone must be approved by Octopus and have Near-Field Communications activated to communicate with readers.

Octopus Mobile SIM users must use the designated network, the designated network is "1010", "csl." and "sun mobile". At the same time, even if the mobile phone supports NFC function, it may not be able to use the Octopus Mobile SIM. balance-and-transactions/octopus-app/tc/phone-list.html on the Octopus Corporation website].

Mini Version (Sold)

The mini Octopus is one-third the size of a standard Octopus card. The card is attached with a movable keychain, which can be hung on your personal belongings for convenience. There are only two types of Mini Octopus for adults and senior citizens, priced at $88 (no deposit and first-time stored value), and sold at MTR Customer Service Centres.

Others

For details, please refer to Octopus Corporation website.

How to add value to a card

Cash Plus

• MTR Customer Service Centre
  • Octopus users can use cash to add value at MTR Customer Service Centre, Airport Express Customer Service Center and Light Rail Service Center. In multiples of HK$50, users or elders who have recorded “Student Status” or “Persons with Disabilities” Personalized Octopus (whether using Personalized Octopus or not) Card or Happy Card) in multiples of $10.

• Octopus Value Added Machines or Ticket Value Added Machines at MTR Stations and Light Rail Platforms (only accept $50 or $100 banknotes, no change).

• Value-added service providers authorized by Octopus Corporation (only some of them are listed):
  • 7-Eleven Convenience Store
  • OK Convenience Store
  • Some chain supermarkets, fast food restaurants and shops

• Customer service centers of other public transportation agencies:
  • KMB Customer Service Center (Shatin Central Bus Terminus)
  • New World First Ferry Octopus Service Station (Cheung Chau, Mui Wo, Template:Hkferry)
  • NWFB Customer Service Center (Admiralty (East) Bus Terminus)
  • Citybus Customer Service Center (Central (Exchange Square) Bus Terminus)

For the above methods, the value added each time is a multiple of HK$50 (unless otherwise specified), and the maximum stored value of the Octopus is HK$1,000 (from December 1, 2019, it will be increased to HK$3,000. Users need to Increase the stored value limit through the Octopus App or at any Octopus service station), the maximum negative stored value is HK$35. (HK$50 for on-loan Octopus issued from October 1, 2017).

Electronic Funds Transfer

• Octopus holders can add value to Octopus by electronic transfer at designated AEON ATMs (AEON credit card holders only).

Automatic Add Value Service

• Now some banks provide Octopus automatic add-value service, as long as the credit card holder of the corresponding bank can apply. When the balance of the Octopus card designated by the applicant becomes negative and the transaction is made, the bank will automatically transfer the funds to the relevant Octopus card (each time HK$150, HK$250, HK$500 or HK$1,000), the value can only be automatically topped up once a day.

How to check your card's balance

• Octopus Checking Machine／Value Adding Machine／Octopus Service Station at MTR stations
  • All Urban Lines and Light Rail stations are equipped with Octopus Checking Machine or Ticket/Add-value Machine (Urban Lines), while individual stations and shopping malls Octopus service is also available In addition to checking the balance of the Octopus, users can also check the last 10 transaction records, including date, time, selected service and deducted amount.

• "Octopus" App (can also be used to reload cards through bank transfer, set up AAVS, find promotions, etc.)

Atlas

Related Items

The Encyclopedia of Bus Transport in Hong Kong Wiki：

Octopus

• Chinese Wikipedia: Octopus (details on the application of Octopus in various aspects)

External Links

• Octopus Holdings Limited
• ERG Transit Systems (HK) Ltd
  • Products
  • [1]
  • [2]

References

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