Welcome to the Octopus (Hong Kong) Site.

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Milestones

Octopus has been making everyday life easier since its launch in 1997. Select a year to learn about our achievements:

1994

Creative Star Limited was formed by five major transport operators in Hong Kong (renamed "Octopus Cards Limited" in 2002).

1996

"Octopus" was chosen as the name of the smart card through an open competition.

1997

Octopus was launched across six public transport systems.
Up to 3,000,000 cards were sold in the first three months.

1999

Octopus reloading service was extended to retail shops.
Automatic Add Value Service was launched through financial institutions.
Octopus Millennium Watch was launched.

2000

Deposit-taking Company authorisation obtained from Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
Non-transport businesses started accepting Octopus - convenience stores, fast food outlets, cake shops, vending machines, schools and carparks.
First residential estate adopted Octopus for access control.

2001

Octopus extended to trams, the Peak tram, photocopying centres, public swimming pools, sporting venues and racecourses.

2002

Octopus extended to cross-border buses, supermarkets, personal care stores, cinema ticketing and ESD kiosks.
Octopus mobile phone cases launched.

2003

Octopus extended to exhibition and convention registration, household outlets, congee shops, digital music kiosks and Government parking meters.
Technology exported to the Netherlands - the first international project.

2004

Octopus extended to Chinese-style wet markets.
Automatic Add Value Service extended to 19 major financial institutions.
Octopus extended to parking meters all over Hong Kong.
Specially designed Sold Octopus - such as the Pearl of the Light series - launched.

2005

Octopus extended to apparel chain stores.
Corporate restructuring completed - Octopus Holdings Limited was established as Octopus Cards Limited and all the non-payment businesses were spun off.
Octopus Rewards Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the holding company, was established to introduce Octopus Rewards, a novel reward programme for all Octopus holders to "DooD n'Gain", earning Reward$ instantly with Octopus regardless of payment means.

2006

Octopus was first accepted in Shenzhen.
Octopus Automatic Add Value Service was enhanced to make automatic HK$500 reload values possible.

2007

Portable Octopus Processor was launched so that more small to medium-sized retail merchants could provide the Octopus service.
Mini Octopus and Child Octopus Wristband launched; the Mini Octopus is only one-third the size of a standard Octopus card.
Octopus was awarded a tender to develop and implement a contactless smart card payment system for multiple transport services in Dubai.

2008

Launch of Octopus Citibank Credit Card - the first card with both credit card and Octopus payment functions.
Octopus introduced self-service payment service for the telecommunications sector.