For many of us, using our mobile phones to make contactless payments is still a relatively new experience. But imagine using an even more advanced technology to make a transaction.

This was the case for British travel couple Ben and Reanne (@otwd_travel), who are currently on holiday in China, where tech is clearly more advanced than in the UK. In a TikTok video shared with their 54,000 followers, Ben visited a small convenience store and demonstrated the country’s advanced cashless payment system.

He picked up a packet of crisps and a bottle of water, then headed to the till to show off the method. After his items were scanned, Ben said: “Now I’m going to pay for it, but I’ve left my phone and card at home, I’ve got nothing.”

He then placed the palm of his hand over a small scanner on the counter, which immediately took his payment. “Palm pay,” he said in amazement, prompting the shopkeeper to laugh. “How crazy?” Reanne asked as they left the shop.

“This country is blowing my mind!” Ben added. “I just paid with my palm!” He then detailed the setup process for the innovative payment method, saying: “You register your palm – I did it earlier today with WeChat [a Chinese instant messaging app].

“Set your card up and no matter where you are in the world, you can pay with your palm print.” Reanne was equally impressed by the technology’s use of unique biological features, adding: “It’s to do with the vessels in there we’ve been told – how clever is that? It’s literally one of the best things I’ve ever seen.”

However, their followers expressed concerns about the potential for increased surveillance. One TikTok user claimed: “That system is a lot more sinister than you think. Have you heard of social points?” Another voiced worries about privacy, claiming: “So the government know everything you’ve bought.”

A third shared fears about a cashless society leading to governmental control, speculating: “Yes this is not good at all, cashless society means full control over the people, this means the government will be able to control all aspects, especially when they introduce carbon points system.”

Whilst a fourth person cautioned about security risks associated with biometric data: “What happens if your biometrics are stolen and hacked? I work in IT. Imagine the information stolen. Hackers can simulate prints.”

GMA Marketing shed light on the technology’s benefits: “Once registered with the WeChat app, customers simply have to place their hand over the scanner to initiate a transaction.”

They also highlighted the hygienic advantages of contactless payment, stating: “The advantage of contactless payment over other identity verification methods like fingerprint recognition is its superior hygiene aspect, as there is no physical contact involved in the payment processing or authentication process.”

The statement continues: “The merchant generates a QR code for the customer to scan using the WeChat app. Once the customer scans the merchant’s QR code, they can complete the payment. This mobile payment method is used for purchases in physical stores, websites, and media advertising.”