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The Immigration Department will host the Third Asia Pacific Discussion Forum on Electronic Identity Documents in Hong Kong from November 30 to December 1, 2004.

The Forum, to be held in Two International Finance Centre and Immigration Headquarters, is a closed door conference held annually for officials to exchange views on implementation of chip-based identity documents.

The theme of this year's conference will be the hot topic of electronic identity documents including biometric passports, smart identity cards and automated control on boundary crossing points. Representatives of more than 30 countries and territories will be present. Representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which is responsible for formulating the international standards on biometric passports, will also attend.

The discussion forum is a hallmark event in the electronic identity document industry. The Immigration Department will take the opportunity to promote the image of the HKSAR as a technologically advanced city on deployment of innovative technologies on immigration control and facilitation for the travel convenience of bona fide passengers. The department has just completed a feasibility study on the integration of biometric data into HKSAR passports and will use the conference to share with other participants the experience of developing electronic identity document.

The department announced today (November 22) that starting from tomorrow (November 23), all Hong Kong permanent residents holding smart identity cards may try the auto-gate at various locations.

"We hope that by encouraging people to try out the auto-gate, we can gauge public opinion, observe any problems that may be encountered and rectify them immediately. People can also get acquainted with the use of the auto-gate so that the system will run smoothly when it comes into operation," the department spokesman said.

The location and operation hours of auto-gates are as followings:

Implementation         Location                  Trial use hours 
Date

November 23, 2004     G/F, Immigration Tower     9am-5pm (Mon to Fri) 
                                                 9am-noon (Sat) 

November 23, 2004     Hong Kong Smart            11.30am-7pm (Mon to Sat) 
                      Identity Card Centre 

Later this week       Tsuen Wan and East         11.30am-7pm (Mon to Sat) 
                      Kowlook Smart 
                      Identity Card Centres 

When the contract was awarded in March, 2004, the contractor immediately started system design and development work.

Since June, 2004, tests on hardware components were conducted to ensure that each and every component could fulfil user requirements.

Since August, 2004, the department has been conducting user acceptance tests to ascertain if the system could meet its stringent requirements. "If people are satisfied with the operation of the auto-gate, the department aims to roll out some auto-gates for clearance purpose by the end of this year. If the feedback from the public entails substantiate change to the design, the department will make sure the enhancements are in place before implementing the system," the spokesman said.

The Automated Vehicle Clearance System will be rolled out early next year.

Ends/Monday, November 22, 2004
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