I think Hong Kong is among the easiest for tourists in the world now alongside Nordic countries. This is because on April 1st, 2026, the government finally mandated taxis accept a QR-code based and non-QR code based digital payment method. Violations of this results in a heavy fine for the taxi.

Background

Launched in 1997, the Octopus card was one of the world's first contactless smart card systems, originally designed to streamline fare collection for Hong Kong’s transit network. Its immediate success and massive adoption rate—now used by over 98% of the population—transformed it from a simple transit pass into a comprehensive micropayment system. This development significantly reduced the city's reliance on physical coins and set a global benchmark for smart city infrastructure, directly inspiring similar systems like London’s Oyster card and Singapore’s EZ-Link.

The Octopus ecosystem has of course been expanded to iPhone, Apple Watch, and Android devices. It is now a universal payment tool accepted at over 190,000 points, ranging from major supermarkets and fast-food chains to self-service vending machines and public facilities like swimming pools.

On April 1st, 2026, legislative updates have pushed the final frontier of cash-only services by mandating all Hong Kong taxis to accept Octopus and other electronic payments. QR-code based payment methods cover AliPay, WeChat Pay, and by extension AliPay+ which covers almost all other major QR-code based systems in Asia. Non-QR code based systems cover Octopus and credit cards (physical or tap-to-pay).

Is it really zero cash?

Zero cash needs to be carried. I have not found any desirable tourist attractions that require cash for entrance nor for everyday use. You may find a temple selling cash-only things, but it's not a must to buy.

Do I still need a physical credit card?

Yes. The only reason is for the hotel deposit during check-in at some hotels.