Macau to join integrated nationwide city card scheme

Macau’s smart card system, Macau Pass, is expected to join the integrated City Union card scheme this July, which will allow citizens in different cities across China to use their locally issued IC cards in other member cities for transportation and other payments.
The integrated city card scheme has been promoted by the Chinese Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD) since 2012. So far, fifty cities across China have achieved the networking of their smart cards, covering a population of 180 million.
The ministry’s spokesperson for the scheme, Ms Ma Hong, told the media on the sidelines of a seminar yesterday that over the past year technical exchanges have been ongoing between the ministry and Macau Pass S. A..
“According to our discussion with Macau Pass, [the linkup] may be implemented between June and July this year. [Macau Pass] needs to update its system before that; we will check and accept the work and send technical personnel here for technical guidance,” she explained.
“It’s rather quick to achieve the required technical conditions, but what specifically we will need to really implement it and make the initiative a reality, for example, will involve currency exchange rates. We need to jointly explore with the related governmental departments,” said Macau Pass deputy general manager Mr Lao Kin Keong.
“That’s why we invited representatives from the departments to the seminar today. Overall, I believe that the government has a crucial role throughout the whole process,” he added.
At the seminar, speakers from related entities introduced the applications and prospects for an integrated city card as well as the outlook of building a “smart city” in Macau.
“I’d see the City Union card linkup plan as a ‘happiness project’ that benefits our country and facilitates Macau and the mainland’s development,” stated Mr Ni Jiangbo, deputy director of MOHURD’s information center. BY