Hong Kong Payments Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecast (2022 - 2027)

Hong Kong Payments Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecast (2022 - 2027)

The Hong Kong payment market is expected to register a CAGR of 4.02% during the forecast period 2022 to 2027. The payment gateway integration has become one of the most critical aspects of any business in every industry. It allows collecting money through the customer's preferred bank without compromising sensitive data.

• Consumers' preferences for online payments are shifting as internet penetration and awareness of the ease of online transactions grow. Users gain trust in moving to online transactions as a result of the hassle-free transactions. Payment gateway market expansion in Hong Kong is fueled by the rising usage of online payment methods.
• After cash, payment cards are the second most prevalent payment method in Hong Kong. The government and financial institutions have worked hard to encourage electronic payment systems, which has resulted in a well-developed payment card sector. They achieved it by eliminating minimum balance fees on bank accounts, opening digital-only banks, and developing and expanding payment acceptance infrastructure.
• In Hong Kong's banking market, the rise of digital-only banks is likely to create competition. The government and regulatory bodies have also taken initiatives to encourage people to utilize cashless payment systems.
• Consumers in Hong Kong have steadily used payment cards for low-value transactions as contactless technology has become more widely available. Cash usage decreased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The growing number of online shoppers has aided payment card market growth.
• COVID-19 has increased card payment knowledge and usage. Companies primarily use credit transfers to pay salaries, make payments to suppliers, and pay taxes. Individuals can use the e-Cheque service to generate electronic cheques with digital signatures using internet banking.

• Hong Kong introduced electronic direct debit permission for pre-authorization by payers. Several APAC markets are looking towards real-time cross-border payments that connect numerous domestic systems. Hong Kong and Taiwan follow Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore in allowing foreign transfers for consumer, remittance, retail, and commercial purposes.
• In Hong Kong, the trend to real-time payments is frequently fueled by strong government support as the city strives to modernize its economy and engage more individuals in digital finance. In Hong Kong, the real-time Faster Payments Service (FPS) has nearly tripled in volume and almost doubled in value transacted.
• In Hong Kong, credit cards are required, and the schemes are numerous: American Express, UnionPay International, EPS, Mastercard, and Visa are all extensively used by online shoppers. AlipayHK, Apple Pay, Octopus e-wallet, PayMe, and WeChat Pay HK are among the most popular digital wallets in Hong Kong, and they are essential for capturing sales.

• The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has announced a slew of initiatives aimed at preparing Hong Kong for the New Era of Smart Banking. Faster Payment System (FPS) for both banks and Stored Value Facilities (SVF) operators are one of the projects. This enables payments in Hong Kong dollars and Renminbi to be made at any time and from any location using mobile phone numbers or email addresses.
• In addition, the HKMA established a new task force to collaborate with the banking industry to reduce regulatory frictions in consumers' digital experiences, such as remote onboarding, online finance, and online wealth management. In addition, a policy framework on Open API was developed to assist the banking sector in the development and use of API, thereby driving innovation and improving financial services through collaboration between banks and IT enterprises.

The Hong Kong payments market is moderately competitive. The companies operating in the market are executing mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships to gain market share. Significant players include HSBC, Bank of China, Bank of East Asia, and Standard Chartered Bank. A few recent developments are:

• May 2022 - HSBC announced a USD 5 billion sustainable finance program to help businesses in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) reduce their carbon footprints. The bank's GBA Sustainability Fund, which runs for 18 months, will accept applications from businesses of all kinds headquartered in the 11-city megalopolis in southern China that engage in carbon-reduction measures.
• May 2020 - Long Win Bus Company, based in Hong Kong, began accepting contactless Mastercard, Visa, and China UnionPay credit cards for bus fares in May 2020 to capitalize on the expanding usage of contactless payments. Customers can use digital wallets such as Alipay and UnionPay to scan the QR code available on bus e-payment terminals to make payments and contactless payment cards.

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
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