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Mobile paymentsi

Cash is history. Whether its ordering groceries from our smartphone or using it to pay for the bus, these companies and services are changing the way we pay for goods and services. 

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  • Outbound spending also increased on Ant Group’s mobile payment app, as Chinese tourists took more trips to places like Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea
  • Beijing has introduced measures aimed at boosting inbound tourism, including visa-free travel for a number of European and Southeast Asian countries
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The Brazilian financial technology company is banking on demand for payment digitisation in the business-to-business space in China and increased adoption of digital payments in India.

Episode Six, or E6, a global provider of payment processing and digital ledger infrastructure for banks and financial institutions, plans to expand its footprint in Hong Kong this year.

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Overseas travellers from nine countries can make payments in Hong Kong using their mobile payment apps after Ant Group expanded its digital payment network via partnerships.

Charles Li, former head of the Hong Kong stock exchange, wants to bring its model of financing for a cut of daily revenue to Southeast Asia as early as the fourth quarter.

Bindo Labs subsidiary Wonder will try to kick-start adoption by giving taxi drivers the required equipment – worth HK$8,600 (US$1,098) – for the next six months.

Tackling payment issues is a small but important part of Beijing’s broader efforts to bring down barriers for foreigners in China, with a particular focus on the start of the Canton Fair later this month in Guangzhou.

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Mobile payments made through 16 wallets supported by Alipay+ now account for 10 per cent of total tourist spending in Japan, unit president Douglas Feagin says.

This initiative escalates ByteDance’s efforts to expand the reach of its social media operation into a potentially large e-commerce revenue stream.

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Post finds new ‘Octopus - China T-Union Card’, which allows for public transport use in 336 mainland cities, has been selling fast at MTR stations and convenience stores.

Although overseas visitors to China have increased after some visa requirements were lifted, other barriers to travel and inconveniences when visiting have been enough to discourage more from planning a trip.

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The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has launched the second phase of a pilot programme to explore ‘innovative’ uses for a central bank digital currency (CBDC) for public use, five months after it unveiled the results of the first trial run.

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China’s State Council vows to further support policies to optimise payment methods and pledges wider support for currency exchange services as part of efforts to address hurdles faced by foreigners.

Ant Group’s Alipay and Tencent’s WeChat Pay are enhancing operations to make it easier for foreign travellers to pay for goods and services on the mainland, the world’s largest cashless society.

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Shenzhen’s municipal government plans to boost the number of its native apps built on HarmonyOS and push for their adoption across major sectors, including education, healthcare, banking, transport and welfare.

Paying for everything from daily goods to big-ticket items with mobile devices in China rapidly became fast and convenient for Chinese people, but it can leave outsiders feeling like their money is not wanted.

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Hong Kong banks are going all out to promote e-lai see, as sending and receiving lucky money electronically is fast rivalling the traditional practice of handing out red envelopes with money.

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Ant Group and the Shanghai municipal government have struck a partnership that would see the two parties deepen their collaboration in fields such as blockchain and artificial intelligence.

The founder also warns staff to focus on ‘safety, not speed’ when venturing into new fintech services like loans and insurance, according to Chinese media reports and people familiar with the situation.

The move comes as China has waived visa requirements for travellers from several countries, while Chinese tourists are expected to head abroad during Lunar New Year.