WeChat Pay HK launches collaboration with MTR

The digital payment scene is heating up in Hong Kong, and will soon enter public transport as MTR will allow passengers to use Tencent's WeChat Pay to purchase tickets.Under the collaboration, mobile payment solutions including WeChat Pay HK and Weixin Pay will be offered to the customers of MTR, providing Hongkongers and Chinese travellers an expanded payment option.Apple Daily, citing people familiar with the matter, reports that MTR will commence the trial in mid-December at Lok Ma Chau and Lo Wu stations.“The company noticed electronic payments are becoming popular, with a multitude of payment options on the market. Following a study, MTR has decided to roll out the trial scheme,” a spokesperson of MTR said.It is believed WeChat Pay is not the only partner in this trial scheme, according to South China Morning Post, WeChat Pay's rival Alipay is believed to be in talks with MTR to introduce an identical payment option.MTRiders, an unofficial Facebook group set up by MTR staff, revealed that both WeChat Pay and Alipay will be accepted after the scanners are retrofitted into the ticket machines.Royal Chen, deputy general manager, financial technology line, Tencent said, “We are excited to collaborate with MTR Corporation, operator of one of the most popular public transportation means in Hong Kong, to promote mobile payment in the city. Through our partnership, we hope to provide more payment options to passengers, bringing convenience to their everyday lives. We look forward to exploring further partnership opportunities with MTR in the near future.”Earlier this month, Tencent Hong Kong said it's in talks with the Association for Taxi industry Development to launch the Wechat Pay feature in taxi rides, expecting a thousand taxi adopting the digital payment by the end of this year.