Hongkongers can now use Android Pay in stores and in apps

Good news for people in Hong Kong: you can now use Android Pay to make purchases at locations like 7-Eleven and McDonald’s as well as in apps.

Google just announced that Android Pay will be finally making its way to Hong Kong. This means that as long as you have an unrooted, NFC-enabled Android device running Android 4.4 or higher, you will be able to create virtual cards just by downloading the Android Pay app. All you have to do is wake up and unlock your phone, hold the back of the device against the contactless payment terminal, and voila, your payment has gone through! No need to open up the actual app.

According to Google, its contactless payment system is already accepted at over 5,000 locations in Hong Kong where contactless payments are accepted. These include 7-Eleven, Circle K, Fortress, Mannings, Maxim’s Cakes, MX, McDonald’s, Pacific Coffee, PARKnSHOP, SmarTOne, Watsons, Wellcome and more. Just like Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, you can store your gift cards and loyalty cards on Android Pay as well. To see the full list of stores that support the app, visit Google’s website.

You’ll also be able to use Android Pay for in-app purchases. Currently it’s limited to apps like Boutir Collect, Deliveroo, Kaligo, Klook, and Snaptee, but Google says more support is coming soon including from Uber.

Right now, Google notes that the following cards will work with Android Pay:

• VISA cards from BEA;
• DBS;
• Dah Sing Bank;
• Hang Seng Bank;
• HSBC; and
• Standard Chartered Bank.

There are no limits as to how many virtual cards you can add, and there is even an option to choose your default payment card. If you are a merchant looking to use Google’s contactless payment service, you can visit the Android Pay Merchant Help Centre. For online merchants, here is the Android Pay API website.