Win-win partners: Tourism Board Chairman Selina Chow and China UnionPay President Wan Jianhua (centre) celebrate the memorandum of co-operation on promoting Hong Kong as the first city outside the Mainland to accept China UnionPay cards.

The Tourism Board and China UnionPay today signed a memorandum to boost co-operation on promoting Hong Kong, the first city outside the Mainland where the China UnionPay cards can be used.

Joint promotions on the city's quality service will be staged to encourage CUP card spending by Mainland visitors and their patronage of merchants accredited under the Quality Tourism Services Scheme.

Win-win partnership

Board Chairman Selina Chow said the move marked the start of a win-win partnership. She said China UnionPay made an ideal strategic partner for the board, which intended to leverage on the company's extensive customer base and banking networks on the Mainland to promote Hong Kong as the premier travel destination among its target segments and stimulate their spending.

China UnionPay President Wan Jianhua said the company has been working closely with its member banks in Hong Kong to develop the CUP renminbi card business.

He said by providing high quality and efficient renminbi payment services for residents, the company is committed to fostering closer economic co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

Top prizes on offer

To encourage CUP card spending in Hong Kong, China UnionPay will hold a promotion offering over 6,000 prizes. From October 1 to 7, the company will award one digital video camera worth $8,000 each day. Special reference numbers will be included on all CUP card receipts.

Those with the first six numbers of 888888 will earn their cardholders one digital video camera whereas those with the first six numbers being 999999 will earn a $100 cash coupon.