Electronic lai-see (e-laisee) is changing how Hong Kong celebrates Lunar New Year by turning traditional red packets into instant digital gifts. Instead of lining up at banks for fresh notes, people can now send festive money through mobile apps, making the tradition faster and more convenient.
On February 3, 2026, bank branches across Hong Kong will kick off the familiar ritual of exchanging fresh banknotes for Lunar New Year lai-see. Yet even before the first crisp notes change hands, Electronic lai-see (e-laisee) is already circulating across the city.
In boardrooms, group chats, and fintech apps, festive blessings are being sent with just a few taps, showing a digital-first mindset that has quietly moved this centuries-old tradition into the cloud.
With internet use at about 97% and mobile payments part of daily life in Hong Kong, it is easy to see why e-laisee has gained popularity. In recent Lunar New Year seasons, people have shared millions of digital red packets across the city. What once meant lining up at the bank now takes seconds on your phone.
If you are an entrepreneur or a business leader, e-laisee offers a direct way to thank your team, strengthen partnerships, and show you understand how this city operates. In 2026, Hong Kong is blending tradition with technology with confidence. The real question is, are you part of this shift? Let’s find out.
The 2026 milestone: HKMA and institutional support for electronic lai-see
Electronic lai-see is no longer just a fintech feature offered by banks and wallets. In 2026, Hong Kong’s central bank made it clear that digital gifting is becoming part of the city’s broader HKMA digital payments strategy.
On 13 January 2026, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued a press release encouraging residents to send Lunar New Year red packets via electronic channels, including online banking, stored-value wallets, and the Faster Payment System (FPS).
As the HKMA noted: “Giving electronic lai-see is simple and convenient, and will contribute to sustainable development by reducing the usage of physical red packets and banknotes.”
Fiscal strength supporting financial innovation
Hong Kong’s financial stability also provides the base for continued investment in digital payment infrastructure.
- On 9 January 2026, the HKMA announced a tender for RMB 1.25 billion in 3-year HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds under the Infrastructure Bond Programme.
- The bonds carry an interest rate of 1.59% per year and mature on 28 July 2028.
- Around the same period, the government also issued HKD-denominated institutional bonds, including a HKD 1 billion reopening of a 10-year government bond issue.
These programmes reflect sustained investor demand for Hong Kong government securities and reinforce the depth of the city’s capital markets.
A strong funding environment allows banks, payment providers, and fintech companies to continue investing in payment networks, instant transfer systems, and digital wallet platforms that support innovations such as the electronic lai-see.
FPS: The technical engine powering electronic lai-see 24/7
The increased use of electronic lai-see in Hong Kong is closely tied to the city’s instant payment infrastructure. A key reason behind this shift is the Faster Payment System (FPS), which the Hong Kong Monetary Authority introduced in September 2018 and continues to expand under the FPS Hong Kong 2026 space of real-time digital payments.
FPS allows individuals and businesses to send money instantly between banks and e-wallets using simple identifiers such as your email address, mobile phone number, or a QR code, rather than traditional bank account details.
For users sending Lunar New Year gifts, this means the process no longer depends on physical cash or bank visits. Funds can be transferred digitally in seconds, even when the sender and recipient are using different banks or wallet platforms. According to the HKMA, the system was introduced to meet growing demand for faster retail payment services and to simplify cross-bank transfers for everyday users.
Expert tip: When sending an electronic lai-see via the Faster Payment System (FPS), it helps to set up the recipient as an FPS contact in your banking or e-wallet app in advance. As the Lunar New Year is one of the busiest payment periods of the year, saving recipients in advance lets you send red packets instantly without re-entering their details.
Infrastructure designed for round-the-clock settlement
Behind the scenes, the Faster Payment System (FPS) runs on Hong Kong’s wider payment system. It connects banks and stored-value wallet providers through a shared network.
What makes FPS different from older payment systems is how quickly it settles transactions. Traditional bank transfers are often processed in batches and usually only during banking hours. But in FPS, payments are processed in real time, so the money reaches the recipient almost immediately after the transfer is sent.
This also removes the challenge of the “holiday hurdle.” In older systems, payments made during weekends or public holidays might only clear on the next business day. With the Faster Payment System (FPS), that delay no longer applies.
Even during busy festive periods like Lunar New Year, when large numbers of digital red packets are sent, the system runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Sustainability and ESG: The green impact of electronic lai-see
Authorities are also encouraging the use of technology and fintech solutions to support sustainable business in HK.
For example, the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group, co-chaired by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, is developing initiatives such as the Hong Kong Green Fintech Map to promote technology that supports ESG reporting and sustainable financial activities.
Sending red packets digitally naturally aligns with that direction. When people transfer money through apps instead of handing over physical envelopes, the need for printing and handling paper materials decreases.
The HKMA has also highlighted this environmental angle in its encouragement of digital gifting during the Lunar New Year.
According to the fintech policy experts, it carries a symbolic weight:“Government encouragement of digital channels during the Lunar New Year sends a clear message. Innovation here is not disruptive to tradition. It is integrated into it.”
A paper-heavy tradition going digital
Traditional lai-see might look simple, just a red envelope with cash inside, but the scale becomes much clearer during Lunar New Year.
Banks in Hong Kong prepare large quantities of new and good-as-new banknotes every year to meet festive demand. In fact, ATM withdrawals typically rise by about 20–30% in the weeks leading up to Chinese New Year, largely because people withdraw cash to prepare lai-see packets.
Those notes must be printed, transported, sorted, and distributed across the banking system before the holiday even begins. Beyond the cash inside, think about the envelopes. Every year, billions of red packets are produced across Chinese communities globally. For many, their life cycle lasts just a few minutes before they are discarded.
Electronic lai-see changes that flow. When the gift moves digitally through payment networks rather than on paper and in cash, the need for printing, packaging, and physical distribution drops significantly.
SME Marketing: Leveraging electronic lai-see for brand growth
One of the more creative uses of e-laisee this Lunar New Year is from Hang Seng Bank.
Instead of simply letting customers send digital red packets, the bank turned the feature into a mini festive game.
Here’s how it worked:
- Customers who sent e-laisee through the Hang Seng mobile app or the FPS payment system between Feb 6 and Mar 3, 2026, automatically entered a lucky draw.
- Prizes included dining e-vouchers worth up to HK$888.
- If someone was trying the feature for the first time, they received 8 lucky draw entries on their first qualifying transaction.
In other words, a simple festive gesture suddenly became interactive and rewarding. Instead of just sending a red packet, customers had a reason to try the bank’s digital features and engage with the app.
What SMEs can learn from this?
For small businesses, this kind of campaign offers a pretty useful idea to borrow.
Instead of just sending a digital red packet, you can tie the action to something extra.
For example:
- Offer discount codes when customers send or receive an e-laisee
- Include digital vouchers or store credits inside the packet
- Give customers lucky draw entries when they use your payment link
- Bring in special festive deals or early access to promotions.
When customers participate, you get:
- More visibility for your digital payment channels
- More reasons for your customers to engage with the brand online
- A positive association with your business during a high-spending festive period.
Why this matters beyond Hong Kong?
What makes digital lai-see interesting is that its relevance isn’t limited to Hong Kong.
A recent joint study by UOB Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council found that 73% of companies in the Greater Bay Area plan to expand into Southeast Asian markets. This growing trend in GBA-ASEAN expansion shows how regional business networks are becoming more connected.
As these cross-border ties strengthen, tools like digital gifting help brands connect with partners and customers in ways that still feel culturally familiar. Festivals like the Lunar New Year are a perfect moment for this. More than a holiday, they’re also about relationships, goodwill, and shared traditions.
Security First: Safely navigating electronic lai-see in 2026
As electronic lai-see (e-laisee) becomes more common, one thing matters just as much as convenience: security. And in early 2026, that topic became especially relevant after the HKMA issued scam alerts reminding the public to stay cautious when using digital payment tools.
The message was simple. Digital red packets are safe when used through trusted systems, but users still need to stay alert. Scammers often try to take advantage of festive periods when people are sending money quickly and frequently.
A quick safety checklist for sending e-laisee
For SMEs and individuals alike, a few simple habits can make a big difference.
- Stick to verified bank features: Always send e-laisee through official banking apps or trusted payment platforms. Avoid links or third-party tools that claim to offer red packet services but are not connected to a licensed bank.
- Double-check Proxy IDs: Many payments in Hong Kong are sent using mobile numbers or email addresses through the Faster Payment System. Before confirming a transfer, make sure the Proxy ID matches the intended recipient.
- Be cautious with unfamiliar requests: If someone sends you a payment link or asks you to send a red packet through an unfamiliar platform, pause and verify first. Legitimate e-laisee features are usually built directly into bank apps.
- Avoid rushing transactions: Festive periods often involve sending many red packets in a short time. Taking a moment to confirm the recipient details can prevent costly mistakes.
Why Hong Kong’s system is relatively secure
One reason electronic lai-see has gained traction is that Hong Kong’s financial ecosystem is designed with strong regulatory oversight.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) helps keep the city’s digital payment system safe. It works closely with banks to detect fraud and enhance security. At the same time, Hong Kong’s financial rules and consumer protection systems make it easier for people to report scams, resolve payment issues, and protect their digital money.
In practice, this means:
- Payment platforms operate under strict regulatory standards
- Banks actively monitor suspicious transactions
- Consumers have formal channels for reporting fraud and seeking resolution.
Wrapping up: Winning the future with electronic lai-see
Electronic lai-see is more than a digital version of a familiar tradition. For businesses, it also reflects something bigger: the willingness to adapt, try new ideas, and connect with customers where they already are (online and on mobile payments).
Across Hong Kong, the rise of digital red packets shows how tradition and technology can work together. A centuries-old custom is now shared through mobile banking apps and instant payment systems, while still keeping the spirit of generosity that makes the tradition special.
For SMEs, encouraging electronic lai-see signals a forward-thinking, resilient mindset. It’s about using digital tools to engage customers, strengthen relationships, and stay relevant in a fast-moving economy (not just sending gifts). In many ways, Hong Kong in 2026 is exactly where tradition meets high-velocity fintech, a place where cultural rituals continue to evolve alongside an advanced financial base.
Ready to digitize your Hong Kong operations? Connect with Startupr to make sure your corporate banking setup and FPS payment capabilities are fully optimized ahead of the 2026 Lunar New Year.
