Octopus(ba da tong )
Octopus
Octopus is the universal electronic toll collection system in Hong Kong. The chip is embedded in a plastic card the size of a credit card. After recharging the card, it is placed on the receiver to complete the payment process. Octopus can be recharged at the recharge machine, shop payment office, credit card, bank account autopay, etc.
Introduction of MTR
Since MTR introduced the octopus system in 1997, it has been widely accepted by the market. Among the population of about 7 million in Hong Kong, more than 13 million Octopus Cards are frequently used in the market. This "one touch" smart card made by Sony can not only be used to take different public transport modes, but also be used by the public to pay by octopus in a number of businesses, such as convenience stores, supermarkets, fast food chains, etc.
The property management department of MTR takes the lead in providing building access control and payment services with Octopus Cards for different residential properties. In addition to expanding the service scope of Octopus system, it takes care of all aspects of daily life. It can also provide special octopus card face design for major institutions to highlight the company's brand image.
usage method
Octopus is a kind of contactless smart card, which is very convenient to use in electronic currency. The operation is very simple, whether it is trading or recharging.
Sales version of octopus
Octopus is the universal electronic toll collection system in Hong Kong. General octopus card, such as credit card size, after recharging on Octopus reader can complete the payment process. Octopus began to be used in September 1997. At first, it was only used in buses, railways and other public transport vehicles. Later, it gradually expanded to more different types of applications, including shops, restaurants, parking lots and other businesses. It was also used as a pass card for schools, offices and residences. It's very convenient for octopus to recharge. It can add value in thousands of places in Hong Kong. The maximum storage value is HK $3000.
There is no deposit and stored value for the sales version of passenger octopus. The price of the sales version of passenger Octopus sold by 7-Eleven is HK $39, excluding the stored value. The sales version of Octopus sold by Hong Kong China Travel Agency is HK $39, with a storage value of HK $10. The total price is HK $49.
There is no difference between the sales version of passenger octopus and ordinary adult octopus. Please recharge the card before use.
It should be noted that the difference between the sales version and the rental version of the octopus is: the sales version of the octopus is a specially designed octopus, which is only for sale, without deposit, and the balance of the stored value in the card can be returned. If you want to rent the leased version of octopus card, you need to pay a deposit of HK $50. The deposit and balance of the leased version of octopus are refundable, but if it is returned 90 days after the card is issued, you have to pay a service fee of HK $9.
Transaction process
When using Octopus payment, users only need to put the octopus card close to the reader, and the payment will be automatically deducted. The average transaction time is only 0.3 seconds. After the transaction is completed, the card reader will sound "beep", and the screen will display the amount deducted and the balance of the card. Usually, the tone of "beep" will be higher when preferential charges are paid (for example, for children and the elderly on buses). A higher tone and longer beep indicates that the transaction has not been completed, and the red light of the reader will be on. The common reasons are that the card is not aimed at the reader, the balance is less than HK $0, or the balance after the transaction will be more than HK $35.
The reader can automatically judge the appropriate preferential charges, such as points plan, transfer discount and "subway special station". Because octopus is a contactless smart card, readers can sense even ordinary materials (such as plastic and leather) separated by a few centimeters, so they can carry out Octopus transactions just by picking up their wallets, handbags and even putting the bags of clothes close to the reader.
Recharge
Almost all stores with Octopus reader can recharge octopus, including 7-Eleven convenience store, OK convenience store, two supermarkets, McDonald's, Maxim, and Carrefour. The customer service centers in some stations of MTR, the ticket offices in all stations (except light rail) and the customer service centers of KMB also provide recharge services. Each octopus card can store up to HK $3000. In addition, even if the transaction amount is larger than the card balance, as long as the difference is not more than HK $35, the transaction can still be carried out without recharging. In other words, the maximum amount of negative stored value of octopus is HK $35. This allows users to travel or purchase most of Hong Kong's vehicles even if the amount of stored value is insufficient
Commodities.
Hong kong octopus card company and Bank of China announced in Shenzhen that they jointly launched "BOC Great Wall international card Octopus Automatic recharge service", which is also the first time that octopus has extended its automatic recharge service to mainland banks.
How to recharge
As long as the cardholder of BOC Great Wall international card fills in the application, his credit card account can be connected with the octopus account.
Once the balance of the octopus account is zero or negative, the credit card will automatically recharge the octopus.
3. Recharge once a day with a maximum of HK $250 per recharge.
4. The main card of credit card can apply for self recharge service for octopus of myself and 3 relatives.
Applicable place
Octopus is suitable for almost all public transport and large chain stores in Hong Kong, such as convenience stores, fast food stores and supermarkets. Many new vending machines in Hong Kong also accept payment from octopus, including toll booths and self-service cameras. In addition, some self-service photocopiers also support the use of Octopus charges, including the libraries of most Hong Kong tertiary institutions. Even travel insurance for Chinese mainland travel can be purchased at OCT at some stations in the east rail line.
Discount
When using Octopus, the subway will charge a cheaper fare than a one-way ticket. For example, when taking the MTR from Tung Chung to Chai Wan, the charge for using Octopus is HK $20.7, and the charge for using one-way ticket is HK $23.5. The total cost is HK $2.8 cheaper.
Some vehicles also offer Octopus users fare concessions, which are not applicable to cash payments. For example, KMB offers a 10% discount on octopus for routes with more than HK fare per trip, while new bus and Citybus have offered the same discount. In addition, the octopus interchange discount for connecting the railway with other means of transportation, the octopus day pass discount for Xinba, and the two-way section charge for Citybus' Stanley route are also some examples of Octopus discount.
Different octopus card reader design with different discount operation. There are four buttons in the card reader on the bus, one is the daily return pass discount, one is the proposed daily ticket discount, one is the Cancel button, and one is reserved for the third discount. For minibuses, the card reader has a button for two-way sectional charging.
return
Because octopus is one of the characteristics of Hongkong, it attracts a large number of tourists, including Chinese mainland free travel tourists, as souvenirs. However, many tourists will return their Octopus Cards before they leave Hong Kong. In order to meet the huge administrative expenses returned by tourists in a short period of time, from November 1, 2004, the octopus company will charge the users who return the cards within three months HK $9.5 as a handling fee (the personal Octopus returned within five years is HK $10). The company also provides a "collection version" of the octopus card, mainly for tourists and other people who want to buy it as a souvenir collection.
Types and forms
Octopus is sold at all MTR stations and airports. A deposit of HK $50 and a prepaid value of HK $20 to HK $100 are required. The deposit will be returned when the octopus card is returned. Generally, octopus is anonymous and can be purchased without identification documents. If the user loses the octopus, he will only lose the value stored in the card, and will not lose any other personal data. In addition to the four types of general octopus for people of different identities, the company also issues personal octopus.
Types of octopus
The first generation of octopus
The value of children's pink is HK $20 and the total value is HK $70
For children aged 3 to 11. Half price discount is available for children's octopus on public transport (except minibuses and some village buses).
The red value of students is HK $50 and the total amount is HK $100
It is suitable for full-time students. They can enjoy preferential fares when taking the subway, but they are no different from adult Octopus when taking other means of transportation or consuming. If you enjoy the preferential fare of the subway, you need to have a "subway student pass". The issue of bus pass and student octopus has been stopped and replaced by personal octopus card with student identity. Student Octopus users can continue to use it until it is damaged. However, from February 1, 2006, adult fare will still be deducted when using student octopus to take the subway.
Adult gold deposit amount is HK $100, total amount is HK $150
Standard octopus.
The amount of green stored value for the elderly is HK $20 and the total amount is HK $70
The applicable age depends on the requirements of different merchants (the applicable age of Citybus is over 60 years old and that of KMB is 65 years old). Adult fees will be charged when the senior discount is not applicable.
Personal color not applicable not applicable
Personal Octopus needs to be registered with the user's photo printed on it. They are mostly used to enter buildings and other facilities, or to replace student octopus.
Second generation Octopus
Children's Pink
For children aged 3 to 11. Half price discount is available for children's octopus on public transport (except minibuses and some village buses).
Adult color
Standard octopus.
Green for the elderly
The applicable age depends on the rules of different merchants
Chinese PinYin : Ba Da Tong
Octopus
