Month: December 2020

More new digital payment products have been introduced in Hong Kong in the second half for services ranging from transportation, lifestyle and dining to sanitation and virtual banking, says Mastercard, a global technology company in the payments industry.
It has collaborated with a number of banks – both virtual and traditional – to roll out payment cards..
Innovative digital numberless Mastercard debit cards were launched by Mox and WeLab Bank.

In line with the rising trend in online shopping, Mastercard says it has worked with CCB (Asia) and ICBC (Macau) to offer the JD Mastercard credit card, both with JD.com; and with Bank of China (Hong Kong), Bank of China Macau Branch and Taobao, which joined forces to launch a co-branded Mastercard credit card.

The HSBC Mastercard Debit Card eliminates cardholder worries about currency fluctuation when overseas or shopping online by allowing access to 12 currencies, with fee-free cash withdrawals at HSBC Group ATMs globally.
For those staying at home, Mastercard offered its first 'Priceless' digital photography workshop in Hong Kong featuring Leica Akademie and has expanded its digital experiences.

These include the wellness promotion with Hang Lung Properties and Germ Tech, the electronic rental payment service with KeyChain Pay and takeaway services with OpenRice as well as the contactless payment options on beauty products at Art Piece with eft Payments (Asia) Limited.

Education was also at the forefront with digital payments for schools and learning centers care of GRWTH.

There were also global and regional initiatives introduced in the second half.

To facilitate digitalization for small businesses, Mastercard has pledged US$250 million over the next five years.
Another initiative is Mastercard and Pine Labs’ launch of their integrated “pay later” solution in five Southeast Asian markets early next year to offer consumers the flexibility of paying by installments on purchases, expand business for merchants and connect banks, fintechs, payment gateways and device makers to a rapidly growing financing alternative.

At the Singapore Fintech Festival, Mastercard partnered with MatchMove and Tappy Technologies to introduce a small, flexible chip that can be attached to wearables and accessories, turning them into secure contactless payments devices.
Mastercard has also teamed up with IDEMIA and MatchMove to debut a fingerprint biometric card trial in Singapore.
With blockchain technology being a focal point this year, Mastercard announced a proprietary virtual testing environment for central banks to evaluate use cases for Central Bank Digital Currencies by enabling the simulation of issuance, distribution and exchange of CBDCs between banks, financial service providers and consumers.

It also announced a collaboration with GrainChain, a technology company that enables supply chain visibility, empowering suppliers and farmers while reducing risks to buyers and banks in the United States, Mexico and Central America.

香港作為大灣區內的創科中心，上星期剛選出了「2020香港資訊及通訊科技獎」的年度大獎及各類別的大獎得主。其中，由香港電腦學會主辦的「2020香港資訊及通訊科技獎︰商業方案獎」的三大類別，包括商業方案（商業及公營機構）獎、商業方案（中小企業）獎及商業方案（大數據及開放數據應用）獎，就共有十一家企業分別獲獎，都能憑創科好橋提升香港科技實力，可謂實至名歸。

香港政府入境事務處憑「當科技遇上優質服務︰新一代智能身份證系統」，榮獲「2020香港資訊及通訊科技獎：商業方案獎」大獎及「2020香港資訊及通訊科技獎：商業方案（商業及公營機構）」金獎。新一代的智能身份證系統，由預約、登記到領證等，均能善用科技；市民可透過新推出的流動應用程式，以幾個簡單步驟，辦理預約和預先填妥申請表格；並可藉自助登記服務站和自助領證服務站，輕鬆地完成換證手續。而為讓居於院舍的長者和殘疾人士，無須前往換證中心換證，入境處亦開發了安全可靠的流動登記系統，院友們可安坐院舍享受一站式服務，而且對資訊保安和個人私隱都有所保障。

商業方案（商業及公營機構）另一金獎得主為言豐科技有限公司之「多語種語音合成」，由人工智能、話音科學、粵語語言學匯聚而成，憑機器學習算法，能以自然流利的人聲對答，應用於虛擬助手、聊天機器人、電子書……等，並可支援廣東話、普通話和英語。

商業方案（大數據及開放數據應用）金獎得主為奧雅納工程顧問。其「Neuron智能建築數碼系統——以AI及BIM技術令建築物更節能舒適」，是香港首個採用人工智能的智慧建築方案，融合建築生命全周期的建築資訊模型、物聯網、大數據分析，匯集多個獨立樓宇設備和裝置的數據，幫助管理者優化大廈營運和管理。

至於商業方案（中小企業）金獎，則頒發予易付達（亞洲）有限公司。該公司之「e+Pay」的聚合支付，是本港目前接入最多支付方式的平台，以一部終端機連接信用卡、二維碼支付和八達通等幾乎所有主流支付；並具備電子收據管理平台和折扣優惠管理後台等增值服務；以及創新服務如「e+齊齊賞」電子優惠券平台，助商戶以低成本進行市場推廣。

香港創科界好橋甚多，只要政府能在「官產學研」方面做好協調，香港自能站穩創科中心的地位。