UnionPay International launches the "UnionPay" app in Hong Kong and Macau to enhance the local customers' mobile payment experience

HONG KONG, Sept. 10, 2018 /CNW/ -- UnionPay International announced today that in answer to the construction of the Greater Bay Area and to meet the increasingly payment needs brought by the exchanges between Hong Kong/Macau and the Chinese Mainland, the unified mobile payment app of China's banking industry, "UnionPay", has started offering service to customers in Hong Kong and Macau, facilitating the interconnection of mobile payment in the Greater Bay Area. From today, consumers in Hong Kong and Macau can bind their locally issued UnionPay cards to the "UnionPay" app and enjoy mobile payment service both in and outside Hong Kong and Macau.

Yang Wenming, Deputy Inspector of Department of Economic Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong S.A.R., Howard LEE, JP, Deputy Chief Executive of Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Cai Jianbo, CEO of UnionPay International, and representatives of banks and financial institutions from Hong Kong and Macau attended the launching ceremony

Cai Jianbo, CEO of UnionPay International, said, in answer to the advance of technologies and the change of customers' payment habits, UnionPay is making great efforts in promoting technical and product innovation. Based on its acceptance, issuance and innovative business in Hong Kong and Macau, and also relying on its extensive acceptance network in the Greater Bay Area, UnionPay extends its experience in developing and promoting the "UnionPay" app from mainland China to Hong Kong and Macau. In addition to providing local customers with mobile payment services, this new progress mainly meets two needs: First, the various financial needs brought by the construction of the Greater Bay Area, including payment needs in cross-border transportation, cross-border utility payment and various types of daily consumption scenarios. UnionPay mobile payment complements the traditional bankcard payment, allowing retail payment to bring convenience and benefit to the people. Second, the diverse payment needs of Hong Kong and Macau residents who visit Mainland China. Customers need a mobile payment solution that is cross-border interoperable, secure, and offer various discounts and privileges. 

Upgrade Hong Kong and Macau residents' mobile payment experience

So far, UnionPay is accepted at almost all ATMs and POS terminals in Hong Kong and Macau, and a total of about 19 million UnionPay cards are issued in Hong Kong and Macau. UnionPay has become a common payment tool for Hong Kong and Macau residents. "UnionPay" is also the only international card brand in Hong Kong that provides mobile payment for debit cardholders.

The launch of the "UnionPay" app in Hong Kong and Macau will further enhance local customers' mobile payment experience, and will also bring more business opportunities to local merchants. Accepting UnionPay mobile payment, merchants can achieve higher payment efficiency and provide various discounts to customers.

As a mobile payment portal jointly developed, operated and maintained by UnionPay and commercial banks, the "UnionPay" app offers Hong Kong and Macau cardholder payment service with four features: First, it is an open platform, and customers with UnionPay cards issued by 6 local institutions can bind their cards with the app this month. And the app will support UnionPay cards issued by most local banks in Hong Kong and Macau within this year. Second, Hong Kong and Macau residents no longer need to download multiple mobile payments and can now use the app to make QR code payment and In-App payment locally and cross-border. Third, the app is accepted in multiple online and offline fields, covering F&B, accommodation, transportation, shopping, etc. Four, it integrates special services offered by various banks, and users can enjoy credit card bonus points and many other services. 

Continue to improve payment service in Greater Bay Area

With the "UnionPay" app launched in Hong Kong and Macau, UnionPay will continue to expand the acceptance scope of its mobile payment service in the Greater Bay Area. So far, about 40,000 POS terminals in Hong Kong and Macau accept UnionPay mobile QuickPass, and this service will be available at all local contactless-accepting merchants this year. Thousands of merchants in Hong Kong and Macau accept UnionPay QR code payment, and UnionPay QR code payment will be available at over 10,000 more merchants in Hong Kong and Macau before the end of this year. In Guangdong and Shenzhen, about 80% of the merchants accept UnionPay mobile payment service. In mainland China, UnionPay QR Code payment is accepted at 7.5 million merchants, and UnionPay mobile QuickPass is available at over 10 million POS terminals. In addition, UnionPay mobile payment is accepted in 41 countries and regions worldwide.

In addition to mobile payment, UnionPay has continued to improve its payment service in Greater Bay Area by optimizing cardholders' payment experience in various sectors and issuing Greater Bay Area-themed cards, and solving the cross-border payment pain points. Taking the transportation sector as an example, UnionPay contactless payment is accepted at the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Intercity High-Speed Rail, the city subway in Guangzhou and Dongguan, taxis and tunnels in Hong Kong, most parking lots and all the bus lines in Macau. Cross-border buses and ferry between Hong Kong and the Mainland accept UnionPay cards both online and offline for ticket purchase. In the future, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed rail Hong Kong section will all support diverse UnionPay payment services.

UnionPay also collaborated with commercial banks to launch the Greater Bay Area-themed UnionPay cards, offering cardholders special benefits. Bank of China has issued UnionPay theme credit cards in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. ICBC Asia has also issued the Greater Bay Area-themed UnionPay credit card in Hong Kong.

SOURCE UnionPay International

Agnes Hou, [email protected], [phone]