Corporate News

OCL launched new measures for On-Loan Octopus, including an increase in the convenience limit for newly issued On-Loan Octopus, and the introduction of an “Inactive Octopus Administrative Fee” to provide greater convenience to customers while encouraging them to use their Octopus regularly.

These measures are applicable to On-Loan Octopus issued from 1 October 2017 onwards. The convenience limit (i.e. the provision for negative value on a single occasion) will be increased from the present HK$35 to HK$50, to further enhance customer convenience when there is insufficient remaining value to pay with Octopus.

The other new measure is the “Inactive Octopus Administrative Fee”. A HK$15 fee will be deducted from any newly issued On-Loan Adult Octopus that has not had any add value or payment transaction for three years. This fee will be deducted from an Octopus that has been inactive for this period, and annually thereafter if it remains inactive. To avoid the new fee, customers are encouraged to use their On-Loan Adult Octopus regularly, or return them if they are no longer in use.

OCL and the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (HKSR) jointly announced the extension of the Octopus Rehabilitation Transportation Subsidy Scheme (ORTSS) until 31 December 2018, after its first three-year term ended in March 2017.

The scheme provides accessible point-to-point transportation to low-income wheelchair users. It is expected that by the end of the extension period, over 34,600 passenger trips of comfortable and convenient accessible transportation service will be offered to qualified users, enriching their social life. At the media announcement of the extension, a wheelchair user shared how the scheme has helped him better integrate into the community and enjoy a fulfilling life.

The “Octopus Kids’ Nurturing (OKN) Programme – Smart Hong Kong Blueprint 2027” Drawing and Mobile Application Design Contest, co-organised by OCL and St. James’ Settlement (SJS), concluded beautifully with results announced at the award presentation ceremony on 17 June.

The STEM-themed contest targeted all primary and secondary school students in Hong Kong, and attracted some 1,400 entries from over 50 schools. The ceremony, officiated by Mrs Helen Kwok, Assistant Director (Youth and Corrections) of the Social Welfare Department; Mr Sunny Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of OCL; and Ms Josephine Lee, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of SJS, was attended by 250 guests including the contest’s panel judges, contest winners, and students of the OKN programme and their parents. Prizes for the winners of the Octopus Card Face Design Competition were also presented, while champions of the mobile apps contest gave live demonstrations of their winning apps.

Award-winning students of the “Octopus Kids’ Nurturing Programme – Smart Hong Kong Blueprint 2027” Mobile Application Design Contest together with their school teachers and representative of St. James’ Settlement, the Contest partner, joined the STEM-themed Japan study tour organised by OCL held between 3 and 5 July 2017. The 3-day rich and thirllpacked STEM tour was an eye-opening experience for all.

OCL had arranged an exclusive visit for the tour members to the innovation showroom, Sony Square, at Sony Headquarters in Tokyo, experiencing how top-notch technology contributes to the innovative development of businesses such as music, games, multi-media and professional services. All participants were thrilled as Sony offered each of them a role playing activity at the technology demonstration. Other than this special event, they had also visited motor engines plant, space museum, science museum and advanced technology gallery where they had joined a robot class.

Students commented that the tour had helped elevate their interest in scientific research and they would study hard in this area while teachers would motivate students to be more creative and encourage them to share with other classmates the memorable and fruitful experience of the trip.

OCL sponsored the Hong Kong Journalists Association’s 49^th Anniversary Gala Dinner, by hosting a corporate table to engage senior journalists in Hong Kong on this exclusive occasion. Octopus senior management had an enjoyable evening with media friends, while exchanging information on OCL’s business updates and industry development during this annual get-together.

Senior Management Group (SMG) members of OCL have recently spoken on various occasions, sharing industry views with event participants.

Our CEO, Mr Sunny Cheung, was invited to be one of the panelists at the Chambers Forum "Forging Ahead with Doing Business Online" of the Internet Economy Summit 2017, organised by the HKSAR Government. He told the audience how Octopus, as one of the leading electronic payment systems, embraces new developments in e-commerce, and its aim to provide both offline and online payment choices to meet customers’ needs. Mr Andy Yip, Head of International Business, met with a delegation from Namyanju City, Gyeonggi Provincial Government, Republic of Korea; and also spoke at the 10^th Transport Revenue and Data Management Forum, held in Singapore.