WeChat Pay HK expands cross-border payments to small merchants in China

WeChat Pay HK has expanded its cross-border payment coverage to include small and micro merchants in mainland China, including taxis in Shenzhen.

This comes as Chinese New Year approaches, with many Hong Kong residents travelling to mainland China for leisure or family visits. According to the Immigration Department's estimate, the peak period of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will be 31 January, the third day of the Lunar New Year and 2 February, the fifth day of the LNY, with around 567,000 passengers and 640,000 passengers respectively.

A spokesperson from WeChat Pay HK indicated to MARKETING-INTERACTIVE that the expansion of payment coverage is aimed at Hong Kong residents traveling to mainland China for leisure, family visits, or business, as well as cross-border commuters.

Hong Kong residents can now enjoy authentic local experiences across mainland, such as street food, handmade crafts, fairs and bazaars, or live painting services, all payable in Hong Kong dollar (HKD). These small and micro merchants in mainland do not require system application or modifications, as they automatically support HKD payments. Users can scan the vendor’s payment code using WeChat, and manually enter the Renminbi (RMB) amount, and the system will automatically convert it into HKD for confirmation and payment.

Moreover, WeChat Pay HK enables Hongkongers to instantly convert RMB to Hong Kong dollars without any fees. For example, when taking a taxi in Shenzhen, users can scan the driver’s payment code with WeChat, enter the RMB fare, and the system will instantly convert it to Hong Kong dollars for payment. In cities outside Shenzhen, users can also pay taxi drivers by scanning their QR codes. The process is simple and convenient, offering competitive exchange rates with no handling fees, allowing users to enjoy the most cost-effective fares.

To promote the expanded payment coverage, WeChat Pay HK has adopted a multi-channel strategy. The company has teamed up with its PR agency, Above The Line, to work with travel and lifestyle influencers who will highlight a seamless travel experience using WeChat Pay HK. They have also distributed press releases to both Hong Kong and mainland media, along with organised photo shoots at Shenzhen taxis and local stalls, such as those selling sugarcane juice and steamed rice rolls.

For online activation, WeChat Pay HK is leveraging the social sharing features of the WeChat ecosystem by sending themed HKD red packets and related messages to select groups to encourage the use of the HKD wallet. For offline activation, WeChat Pay HK has collaborated with travel agencies, transport hubs, and shopping centers to demonstrate the convenience of using WeChat Pay HK for cross-border payments.

Daniel Hong, vice president of Tencent Financial Technology, said: “WeChat Pay HK is committed to meeting the needs of Hong Kong users by continuously expanding coverage in Mainland. From large, medium, small and micro merchants, all the way to transport options including metros, buses, taxis and ridesharing, our goal is to eliminate the hassle of handling cash and currency exchange, making the payment experience simpler and more convenient.”

WeChat Pay HK has been supporting e-payment for public transport across nearly 50 mainland cities, including buses and metros in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhongshan, Zhuhai, and intercity transport such as the Shenzhen-Zhongshan express bus. Users can also access transportation mini programmes on WeChat, such as “Transit QR Code” (乘車碼), “Didi” (滴滴出行) and “Amap” (高德地圖) to search for routes and book various transport options anytime, anywhere. This aims to ensure a smoother and more efficient travel or business experience for Hong Kong residents across the Greater Bay Area.

Don't miss: Alibaba's Tmall and Taobao to add WeChat Pay as payment option

Back in September last year, Alibaba Group’s core eCommerce division Taobao and Tmall Group (TTG) started accepting WeChat Pay for payment in the coming month, aiming to enhance user experience.

Driven by its user-first strategy, TTG and Taobao enable all merchants to add WeChat Pay to their storefronts, enhancing user convenience and flexibility. This initiative also aims to create new business opportunities for merchants by expanding their consumer base, particularly in less-developed markets.

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