Trial use of Octopus cards on parking launched

Electronic parking will be pushed a step forward when the Transport Department (TD) starts its six-month trial scheme on use of Octopus cards for parking meter payment this Saturday (November 18).

Announcing details of the trial scheme at a press conference today (November 16), the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Robert Footman, said the trial aimed to assess the technical performance of Octopus application on parking meters in outdoor environment and the public acceptance of this new form of payment.

"Motorists would no doubt find the re-loadable Octopus card for payment of parking meter charges very convenient and environmentally friendly as they may add value to their cards at all Mass Transit Railway and Airport Express stations, all Kowloon Canton Railway East Rail stations, all 7-11 convenient stores and some Light Rail Train stations," added Mr Footman.

The Octopus was launched in September 1997. Today, more than 6.8 million cards are in circulation. In addition to its core business on public transportation, Octopus cards also become a means of payment to parking meter charges through this trial.

TD has invited the issuing company of Octopus cards, Creative Star Limited, and five meter suppliers (Adams Parking (International) Limited, Ho Wang SPB Limited, Hong Kong Parking Limited, New World First Tech Limited and VFJ Focus) to take part in the trial.

There will be two types of new parking meters participating in the trial:

Multi-Bay Machines (MBM) - MBM is similar to the current pay-and-display machines, which control several parking spaces per machine. However, users are not required to display parking tickets inside their vehicles. After parking their cars on a certain bay controlled by MBMs, motorists only need to select parking bay number and then purchase parking time according to the instructions on the MBMs. A total of 40 parking spaces in the Victoria Park car park near Hing Fat Street will be reserved for the trial of MBMs.

Single-Bay Machines (SBM) - SBM is similar to the current electronic parking meters. Motorists only need to purchase parking time according to the instructions on the SBMs. A total of 24 parking spaces in the Victoria Park car park near Hing Fat Street will be reserved for the trial of SBMs.

Apart from the Victoria Park car park near Hing Fat Street, the trial will be extended to cover another 100 parking spaces in the Eastern district and Mong Kok district early next month.

Octopus card logos will be affixed to the electronic parking meters on trial, which only accept Octopus cards. The use of Octopus card on these meters is very simple and motorists should follow carefully the operation instructions displayed on the meters for purchasing parking time.

The mechanical coin-operated parking meters were all replaced by electronic parking meters in September 1999. These meters initially only accepted e-Park cards issued by TD.

"Since March this year, we have introduced trial schemes on reloadable smart cards including Mondex, Visa Cash and now Octopus. Based on the results of the three trial schemes, a decision will be made on opening up the parking meter system to accept suitable reloadable smart cards," said Mr Footman.

For enquiries, motorists may call Octopus hotline at 2266 2266 or TD's meter management contractor hotline at 2318 0616 on meter operation.

End/Thursday, November 16, 2000