Originally Posted by
evergrn
I visit HKG every year. Because I'm so worried that the left-over value may not reappear correctly after not using the card for a year, I always turn in my card at the end of the trip. But am I worrying about nothing? I'd rather not have to line up to get a card and to turn in the card and then lose 9HKD or whatever each trip.
Just chiming in with another data point here.
I go home to HK on average about once a year and have kept my same Octopus card since I got mine some time in the early 2000s. I always leave some value on it as I don't like to fuss about with getting it loaded while at HKIA and I have never had trouble using the same card over and over.
FWIW, same sort of thing with my Suica IC card for use on all the major Japanese public transport systems. I've never had a problem with that one either.