Money, money, money ... It’s not a cashless society yet in Hong Kong where banknotes still rule
- Art director for HSBC’s Global Publishing Services says banknotes often depict people, places and animals unique or symbolic to a specific place
- Historically, Hong Kong’s banknotes have also depicted city’s bustling trade activity, such as tea manufacturing in the early 1900s
Going cashless may be all the rage in mainland China and places chasing “smart nation” targets, but Tommy Tam Kar Hay is relieved that, for now at least, hard cash still rules in Hong Kong.
There is plenty about the look, feel and history of banknotes to treasure, says the art director for HSBC’s Global Publishing Services, which works on the design of banknotes.
Hong Kong’s banknote designs tell a lot about the city, its history and what was important at different periods of its existence.
“It is good emotional material for tourists to understand Hong Kong culture and heritage,” Tam said.
The government is pushing for Hongkongers to go cashless, but cash is still king in the city.
About 70 per cent of Hongkongers have never paid for anything with their mobile phone, a survey by the Hong Kong Productivity Council found last July. The city still lags mainland China, where almost 98 per cent of citizens use mobile payment systems.
