Chapter 33 The earliest "Octopus" in Hong Kong?

Today, the population of Hong Kong has exceeded 7 million. Regardless of government officials, company employees, business tycoons, performing arts stars, including almost all "general public" (Hong Kong likes to use this word to mean "broad masses"), everyone has There is one thing, which is more popular than computers and mobile phones. It is a card, a consumer card, called "Octopus".It is a bit similar to the "dream product" of childhood - since ancient times, how many children on the earth have had the same dream, this is if one day, I can have a baby in my hand, where to go, what to buy , toys, food, just wave your hand, and you don’t need to spend money to bring all the things, that would be great...

Ten years ago, this "dream" was realized in Hong Kong. When I first arrived in Hong Kong in 2004, my husband soon gave me a magical "Octopus".This "Octopus" is the size of a credit card, with a deformed "8" printed on the yellow surface of the card.It is this small magnetic card, and its function cannot be underestimated: it can pay for almost all trains, subways, buses, ferries and parking lots; at the same time, it can also buy vegetables and daily necessities in supermarkets and convenience stores; Tickets, swimming in the swimming pool, and getting snacks from the vending machine... Cardholders only need to press the "Octopus" on the "reader" lightly, travel around Hong Kong, eat, drink and play, or put the things they choose Take it home without a penny in your pocket.

In the early 1990s, the Hong Kong MTR Corporation was very distressed that each "instant-buy magnetic truck ticket" was not only expensive, but also could not flexibly cover all transportation network systems in Hong Kong, which made citizens feel very inconvenient. Hope to replace it with a better charging method.So they began to adjust and develop "smart card technology", and finally developed a "card-touch payment method" that is easy to operate and can cover different transportation networks, which made "Octopus" come into being. The English name of "Octopus" in Hong Kong is Electronic Fare Payment System, which means "Touch and Go", which translates into Chinese as "contact electronic payment system" - "one tap and go".This "baby" was launched in October 1997, and 3 million copies entered the circulation within 3 months.Today, the Hong Kong Octopus Cards Co., Ltd. has sold more than 8 million "Octopus" cards. If this number is averaged to every Hong Kong person, "everyone has a surplus".

The birth of "Octopus" in Hong Kong is the result of advanced technology and the product of "humanization" requirements. Since I took over the "Octopus" from my husband, I went to the supermarket the next day. At that time, many things were optional, but in order to see the magic of the "Octopus", I still bought randomly.At the checkout counter at the exit, I found a striking sign on the top of the counter computer, which looked exactly like an "Octopus", so I gently leaned the magnetic card in my hand against it, and there was a beep, wow, the counter screen immediately The price is displayed, and my payment has been completed.

The biggest reason why Hong Kong people love the "Octopus" is that this "small card" is so convenient. Sometimes users put the "Octopus" in their wallets, or even in their handbags (schoolbags), without taking it out at all. Just put the wallet or handbag on the "reader", and the "reader" can also obtain all the data in the card, and the whole delivery process only takes 0.3 seconds. Hong Kong's "Octopus" coincides with the rapid pace of life of Hong Kong people. It is not only simple and convenient to use, but also easy to recharge. It can be used at any subway station, train station, or any "7-11" shop all over Hong Kong. Provide recharge service. If Hong Kong people are willing to go through a "entrusted automatic recharge" procedure at the bank, Hong Kong banks can also provide "automatic" recharge services for cardholders. In this way, as soon as the money in your card is used up, the new card The money will be replenished immediately.

Now when I go out in Hong Kong, I am not afraid as long as I don’t forget one thing in my hand. This is the "Octopus". The "Octopus" in Hong Kong has benefited me a lot. First of all, with the "Octopus", although I am poor compared with the rich in Hong Kong, the cards in the hands of the rich and the poor are the same, which makes us not feel shabby; Second, "Octopus" has another advantage. After all, the amount of money in it is limited (up to 1,000 yuan), unlike "credit cards" that can be overdrafted, so I, a "poor" in Hong Kong, will not use "Octopus" to Whatever "big things" you do, you can always restrain your unrealistic desires.

After Hong Kong's "Octopus" became popular in Hong Kong (the average daily transaction number has exceeded 8.6 million times, and the transaction volume has already reached 60 million Hong Kong dollars), I heard that some Hong Kong citizens are not yet able to use "Octopus" in restaurants and restaurants. It is "very regrettable" to use it in taxis and other places. I don't think so, but I would like to maintain the current quota level of "Octopus".If the "Octopus" can one day be developed to allow cardholders to do whatever they want, to enter a restaurant if they want to enter a restaurant, and to take a taxi whenever they want to go out, that would be too far-fetched, and would instead create a burden.

After I arrived in Hong Kong, "poor people are happy", I once had 6 "Octopus" in my hand at most. People who don't know the reason thought that I had nothing to do with so many cards. "?But when my friends knew my intentions, they all nodded their fingers and praised me for being calculating, very cunning, and knowing how to avoid the serious and ignore the trivial.How do you say this?Don’t family and friends often come to Hong Kong for a short stay during winter and summer vacations, “May 1st”, “11th” or other days?As a temporary landlord, I don’t entertain guests well, which seems unreasonable, but if I really want to take them out shopping and playing again and again all day long, I have neither the time nor the patience, so I just focus on I bought an "Octopus" and bought a stack of 100 yuan each, one for each person. This is decent and novel, and the visitor's quota can't be spent, and the money will automatically stay in it. I want to take it back to the mainland as a souvenir. , is such a special aftertaste; if you want to continue to use it, next time you come to Hong Kong, you can take it out of your pocket and use it immediately, look, how happy and refreshed!

Of course, when I do this, I still have a small calculation in my heart. This "small calculation" is to rely on the "Octopus" to prevent overdraft. No matter how many family members and friends come to Hong Kong, I will not go bankrupt.If an "Octopus" can be used for eating and typing, how can I still give it away one by one?Isn't that sick or lack of heart? !