HONG KONG – Hong Kong will facilitate the creation and the use of e-CNY (digital yuan) wallets in the latest progress of collaboration between the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the People's Bank of China to expand an e-CNY pilot for cross-boundary payments, the HKMA said on Friday.

Residents can set up e-CNY personal wallets in Hong Kong using only their Hong Kong mobile phone numbers and top up their e-CNY wallets via the Faster Payment System through 17 retail banks in Hong Kong. The e-CNY can be used in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and other pilot areas on the Chinese mainland, said the HKMA.

By expanding the e-CNY pilot in Hong Kong, users can now top up their e-CNY wallets anytime and anywhere without having to open a Chinese mainland bank account, which will make it easier for Hong Kong residents to make payments on the Chinese mainland, said Chief Executive of the HKMA Eddie Yue.

"We will continue to work closely with the People's Bank of China to gradually expand the applications of e-CNY, enrich the range of functionalities of the e-CNY wallet available to Hong Kong residents, and step up efforts in promoting the acceptance of e-CNY by more retail merchants in Hong Kong and on the Chinese mainland," he said.