【明報專訊】In the past few weeks, Hong Kong has just witnessed the start of the war of e-payments, which has attracted both local and mainland businesses — WeChat Pay (微信支付), Alipay (支付寶), TNG Wallet and Octopus Card, just to name a few — to fight for domination of the market. In Hong Kong, they are making their ways to taxis, buses and the MTR for the convenience of mainland tourists.
True, with the assistance of smart phones and QR code, e-payment services seem to be more convenient. However, according to a study by CUHK, mobile payment users are prone to fraud if they have unknowingly installed any malicious applications (惡意程式).
For many years, Hong Kong people have been using the Octopus Card, which also completes a payment in just a few seconds. To some experts, the Octopus Card and new e-payment services are much of a muchness.All in all, they think it is too early to foresee a dramatic change in consumer behaviour (消費者行為), let alone a cashless society (無現金社會).
(Source: Ming Pao, www.cuhk.edu.hk)
■English highway﹕much of a muchness
This is an idiom which means "very similar".
e.g. The two Chief Executive candidates are much of a muchness—it's painful to choose between them.
■Game １
MoMo and Bill are running on a giant Octopus Card.
MoMo's rate of speed: 3m/s, 12m away from the destination
Bill's rate of speed: 1m/s, 6m away from the destination
Who will arrive at the centre of the infinity sign first?
(Answers on next text)
■Game ２
Pat wants to pay with her phone by scanning the QR code. However, Eason has made a fake one to fool Pat. Circle 3 mistakes in this fake QR code.
■Glossary
witness (v) 見證
domination (n) 主導
prone (adj) 容易…的
fraud (n) 詐騙
[Smarties' Power English 第204期]
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