Visa, Amex to launch Apple Pay in HK

Visa and American Express have both revealed plans to support mobile payment service Apple Pay in Hong Kong starting this summer.

Customers in the region with American Express and Visa cards will be able to use Apple Pay to pay for purchases where contactless payments from the credit or charge cards are accepted.

Apple Pay supports the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone SE and Apple Watch for in-store payments, and these devices plus the iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4 and iPad Pro for payments from within apps.

The platform uses the Visa Token Service to ensure card numbers are not stored on the device or on Apple servers.

Instead a unique device account number is assigned, encrypted and securely stored in the Secure element on a user’s device device. Each transaction is authorized with a one-time unique dynamic security code. Customers can use Apple’s TouchID fingerprint authentication system to approve payments.

“Visa is proud to support issuers in Hong Kong who want to launch Apple Pay to bring their customers a more secure and convenient way to pay. In Hong Kong contactless payments have become a necessity for everyday life,” commented Caroline Ada, country manager for Visa Hong Kong and Macau.

“American Express was the first card issuer to bring Apple Pay to Card Members in the Asia Pacific region. Our customers love the ease and security of Apple Pay in their daily spending, dining and leisure activities,” added American Express VP and general manager for card services for Hong Kong and Taiwan Susanna Lee.