Architect of Hong Kong’s Octopus card retires with dreams of ‘tap-free’ access

Sammy Kam Chi-sum, the primary architect of Hong Kong’s contactless Octopus cards, is retiring after nearly 30 years with the company at the end of this month, before what he says is an inevitable transition to a technology that will not even require tapping for certain transactions.

Octopus’ chief operations officer began his journey in 1995 when he joined the MTR Corporation’s marketing team to help launch what would become the world’s first contactless system that revolutionised public transport and retail payments.

Now in his 60s, Kam said his vision was to create a “tap-free” commute environment by using ultra-wideband wireless technology with “centimetre-perfect” location tracking to enable passengers to move through entry and exit barriers without needing to tap a card on a sensor.

“I really hope that in the next two to three years, ultra-wideband can be fully realised. The system will sense your presence, deduct the fare [from your Octopus card] and open the gate for you automatically,” he said.

“Actually, the technology is already here. We are actively exploring it, but I will leave the rest for my successors to handle.”

Kam will be succeeded by Octopus’ head of transport business, Nora Tang Chui-shan, and the general manager of the company’s technical department Tracy Poon Suet-wing on New Year’s Day.