Payment Methods in Hong Kong: 4 Popular Options in 2025

Looking to do business in Hong Kong and wondering how to get paid—or pay others—efficiently? 

Whether you're launching a startup, expanding into Asia, or simply exploring better ways to move money, choosing the right payment method is critical. 

This article breaks down the popular payment methods in Hong Kong in 2025, covering how businesses can accept the preferred payment methods in the Hong Kong market and common methods to pay suppliers and partners locally and internationally, helping you make an informed decision for your business.

In a fast-moving market like Hong Kong, clients expect speed, flexibility, and convenience. Your payment setup can directly affect both your cash flow and your credibility. To succeed in doing business in or with Hong Kong, you need to support payment methods that match local preferences. This includes:

1. Cards
2. Mobile Wallets
3. FPS
4. Cash

Card payments remain one of the most widely used and preferred payment methods in Hong Kong. According to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), both debit card and credit card circulation increased in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter. 

Among the card types, credit and charge cards made up 77.7% of the total card payment value last year. For offline payment, contactless payments are the norm in Hong Kong, customers simply tap on the payment terminal to pay. 

Key Card Networks

Visa, Mastercard®, UnionPay, EPS (Electronic Payment Services, a local ATM and card network), JETCO, and American Express (Amex). 

If you’re targeting middle- to upper-income customers, tourists, or corporate clients, you should absolutely accept card payments. At minimum, you should support the three major networks: Visa, Mastercard®, and UnionPay.

UnionPay is particularly important if you serve customers from Mainland China. For businesses in premium sectors, such as hospitality, luxury retail, or travel, American Express (Amex) can be a key differentiator. Amex cardholders tend to spend more and expect the option to use their card, especially in high-touch, high-value environments.

Online: Set up a payment gateway (like Stripe or PayPal). These plug into your website or online store to process payments securely.

Physical Stores: Get a POS (Point of Sale) terminal. Make sure it supports contactless payments. Contactless card payments are the default way people pay in physical stores. Customers expect to simply tap and go.

Mobile wallets now occupy much of the same everyday space as cards. In Hong Kong, they are expected to take the lead as the main payment method by 2030. A recent report projects that digital wallets will handle 45% of online payments and 48% of in-store purchases within the next five years.

Popular mobile wallets

Most of the widely used digital wallets in Hong Kong are locally developed or come from Mainland China. This includes Octopus, AlipayHK, WeChat Pay HK, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, PayMe, Tap & Go, and BOC Pay.

Mobile wallets signal modern, customer-friendly service. They’re essential if you target locals, younger consumers, or Mainland Chinese customers. They also improve speed and convenience for both online and in-person checkouts.

Online: Most major payment gateways (such as Stripe and PayPal) support accepting payments from mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Alipay. Mobile wallet providers also typically offer integration tools, plugins, or APIs that merchants can use directly.

Physical Stores: Use QR code scanners, integrated POS systems, or dedicated mobile wallet terminals. Wallet providers themselves often offer merchant tools.

Faster Payment System (FPS) is a real-time payment platform introduced by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). It connects 30+ banks and 9 Store Value Facilities (SVF).

With FPS, individuals can make cross-bank or cross-wallet payments using just a mobile number, email address, or QR code, without requiring traditional banking details. Both personal and business users can link their bank accounts or e-wallets to FPS. Most transactions are processed almost instantly. FPS supports both Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) and Renminbi (RMB).

FPS gives businesses in Hong Kong a fast, secure, and low-cost way to receive payments without investing in complex infrastructure. However, FPS is a domestic-only system. It does not support payments from overseas customers or cross-border transactions. You can only collect payment in HKD.

To accept FPS payments, you first need to set up FPS. Go to your Hong Kong bank’s mobile app or online banking platform to register. You’ll link your FPS ID, which can be your phone number, email, or HKID number, to your bank account. Once registered, you can start sending and receiving payments.

Alternatively, some payment gateways also accept FPS.

Despite the rise and wide adoption of card and mobile payments, cash is still common for everyday transactions. Many older residents continue to favour cash, and it can be the fastest way to settle small bills in informal settings.

Cash could be one of the accepted payment methods if you have an offline store. The best advantage is that there is no transaction fee. 

To accept online payments from customers in Hong Kong, you typically need two main things: a payment gateway and a business account to receive the money from the payment gateway.

The payment gateway (like Stripe, PayPal, or Adyen) is the service that processes your customers’ credit cards, mobile wallets (like AlipayHK or WeChat Pay), or FPS payments securely on your website. You connect this gateway to your business account. 

Once set up, customers pay through your website, the gateway processes their payments, and the money goes directly into your business account.

If you're managing your business from overseas, it's a smart move to use a multi-currency business account that can hold both HKD and your local currencies. This way, you can retain HKD payments and convert them later when exchange rates are more favourable.

Alternatively, if a customer prefers to pay by bank transfer, you can offer that option as well. Just make sure your business account can receive local HKD transfers or international wires. Keep in mind that international wire transfers often come with high fees. 

Accepting payments from clients is just one side of running a business. You also need to pay suppliers, contractors, and remote teams—and the payment method you choose can impact your costs, speed, and credibility. In this section, let’s explore the common payment options for local and international transactions.

For small transfers, FPS (Faster Payment System) is a preferred option. It is instant and usually free.

Larger businesses often use CHATS (Clearing House Automated Transfer System), a high-volume bank transfer system, for payroll and vendor payments. These transfers are mostly same-day and typically cost between HKD 50 and 100 per transaction.

Cheques and e-Cheques are still used in more traditional industries or when dealing with legacy partners, though they’re less common among digital-first companies.

• SWIFT payment for secure international transfers. This usually takes 1 - 5 business days. Fees vary widely but are typically higher than HKD 50 - HKD 200 per transfer plus possible intermediary bank fees. This depends on the destination country. 
• Multi-currency accounts to handle payments in various currencies efficiently.  multi-currency business account lets you hold, send, and receive money in different currencies. Transfer speed and cost vary by provider. With Statrys, sending HKD starts at HKD 5, receiving is free, and HKD and USD payments to Hong Kong are credited on the same working day.
• International money transfer apps that support business payments, such as OFX and Xe Money Transfer, offer flexibility and ease of use. Transfer speed and cost vary by provider, usually a percentage of the transfer amount.
• Business credit cards for operational costs, subscriptions, and business travel.

With Statrys, you can hold, send, receive, and convert HKD, RMB, USD, EUR, and other major currencies with ease. 

At Statrys, we empower entrepreneurs, freelancers, and SMEs registered in Hong Kong, Singapore and the BVI to do business confidently within Hong Kong and internationally. Whether you're receiving payments from clients, paying suppliers, or exchanging currencies, our multi-currency Hong Kong business account allows you to:

• Hold and manage 11 currencies, including HKD, RMB, USD, EUR and more
• Send and receive funds to and from over 140 countries
• Connect with Stripe and PayPal payment gateway. These gateways let you accept cards and mobile wallet payments.
• Use a business payment card to cover expenses and track spending locally or internationally.
• Integrate with Xero accounting tools
• Get a competitive FX rate, with fees from 0.1%
• Access a dedicated account manager for personalised support via WhatsApp, WeChat, phone and email
• 100% online applications, 96% of accounts are opened within 3 business days.