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Following is a summary of the Immigration Department's major activities covered by the Director of Immigration, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, at the department's year-end briefing 2005 today (January 23):
Traffic at control points
In the year under review, 205.9 million passengers and cross-boundary vehicles passed through our control points, up 5.3% from 195.6 million in 2004. The workload growth is better understood by taking into account the 7% year-on-year increase in visitors, the immigration clearance of whom requires greater application of knowledge and skills and takes longer than that of residents.
The Individual Visit Scheme, introduced on July 28, 2003, has been expanded in phases from the initial four Mainland cities to a total of 38 cities. Up to the end of 2005, more than 10 million Mainland visitors had come to Hong Kong under this scheme, representing 36.1 % of total visitors from the Mainland.
Lo Wu remained the busiest control point. The average daily traffic volume stood at about 249,000.
Overnight traffic at Lok Ma Chau has been increasing steadily. There was an average of about 14,900 passengers travelling daily from midnight to 6.30am in 2005.
Passenger traffic at air and sea control points also soared to 26 million and 21.5 million respectively, a year-on-year increase of 7.4 % and 0.5% respectively.
Automated Passenger Clearance (APC) and Automated Vehicle Clearance (AVC) projects
At the end of 2005, a total of 96 e-channels were in operation at Hong Kong International Airport, Hung Hom, Lo Wu, China Ferry Terminal and Macau Ferry Terminal control points and four others for cross-boundary drivers at Lok Ma Chau control point to provide self-service immigration clearance for cross-boundary drivers who are permanent residents holding smart identity cards.
Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES)
The CIES, launched on October 27, 2003, has been well received and successfully attracted entrants who are bringing in new capital. At end-2005, 1,110 applications had been received. The reported personal assets amount to an average of $26.03 million per applicant.
Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP)
In 2005, 4,029 applications received under the scheme were approved. According to statistics, 1.5 additional posts are created for the local job market for each professional admitted.
International co-operation as deterrent to global illegal activities
The department participates actively in international conferences and workshops on immigration matters. Experience sharing with Mainland and foreign counterparts helps to foster better understanding and co-operation in combating forgery and illegal migration.
Co-operation initiative in combating forgery
A co-operation initiative was devised for the staff of Aviation Security Company Limited (AVSECO) to refer to us cases of suspect travel documents detected during searches or X-ray scanning of luggage.
In 2005, the department detected 2,334 forged travel documents, down 7.4% from 2,521 in 2004. The drop reflects the effectiveness of our continual enforcement measures in curbing clandestine migration.
Efforts in combating illegal work
Immigration investigators conducted 6,497 operations in the past year and arrested 13,722 people - 12,468 illegal workers and 1,254 employers.
HKSAR passport applications
During the year, 479,685 HKSAR passport applications were received and 437,790 passports, issued.
Hong Kong Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise
The Hong Kong Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise has been making steady progress. By the end of 2005, all people born from 1943 to 1977 had been called forward to apply for the new identity cards. In 2005, the department received 1,516,538 applications for smart identity cards, making a cumulative total of 3,450,081 applications since the implementation of the replacement exercise.
New telephone hotline to enhance service
To enhance the service of the AHU, the department has introduced a new four-digit, easy-to-remember hotline number, 1868, and round-the-clock service with effect from August 15, 2005. In 2005, 4,201 requests were handled.
New Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development (ISITD)
The ISITD situated at Castle Peak Bay, Tuen Mun was commissioned on August 1, 2005. The 13-storey institute, with floor area of 13,000 square metres, features multiple facilities including a drill ground, 13 classrooms, lecture theatre, indoor swimming pool, learning resource centre, information resources centre, obstacle training ground, physical fitness centre and gymnasium with elevated running tracks.
Other functions-specific resources include Entry/Exit Processing and Records System (EXPRESS) training centres, Automated Passenger Clearance (APC) and Automated Vehicle Clearance (AVC) training centre, Video Recording Interview (VRI) room, Mock Court and Immigration Museum.
Mainland Training and Exchange Programme
To foster a closer working relationship with Mainland counterparts, the department arranged officers to undergo training and a study visit to the Mainland. Fifteen officers, from IOs to CIOs, attended a one-week study programme at the Gong On University in Beijing, and 20 Mainland officials attended a one-week study programme at the ISITD in November 2005.
Overseas Training and Exchange Programmes
In 2005, 11 officers were sent to Japan, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States for study visits or to attend courses on administration, leadership, management, all arms drill, crime investigation and computer crime detection skills. Eight officers participated in two exchange training attachment programmes in the Republic of Korea and France.
A year of awards
The Immigration Department won five awards, including the top Service Enhancement Award (Large Department); the Smart Identity Card Sub-Division was named Champion in the Team Award on Front-line/Counter Service; the Smart Identity Card System and Control Point System won the Champion and Merit Award respectively in the Team Award on Innovation/Application of Technology. The Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development was the first runner-up in the Team Award on Internal Service.
We also won a number of local and international awards in the development and applications of information technology.
Vision for 2006
Despite the incessant work pressure faced by the department in 2005, we have made due effort to provide quality and efficient services to the community. With the extension of the individual visit scheme to more provincial cities, maintaining a smooth flow of passengers at the control points remains a tough mission for us in 2006.
By mid-2006, more than 200 e-channels will have been installed at various control points to enable passengers and cross-boundary drivers holding smart identity cards to perform self-service immigration clearance.
With the enactment of the Immigration (Amendment) Ordinance 2005, the department plans to extend the self-service immigration clearance service to non-permanent Hong Kong residents in 2006.
To alleviate the incessant growth of boundary-crossing traffic, a new control point, Shenzhen Bay port (formerly known as Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor) is being built at Shekou in Shenzhen. There will also be a Public Transport Interchange adjacent to the passenger terminal building at the new control point for access by other means of transport. The overall design of the boundary-crossing facilities has been finalised, and construction work is proceeding at full speed. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2006.
The Immigration Department is actively participating in the planning and preparatory work for the new control point at the Lok Ma Chau Terminus of the Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line scheduled for completion by mid-2007.
The new Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal will provide cross-boundary passenger ferry services to and from Macau. Given the work progress, it is expected that the terminal may commence operation in the first half of 2006.
On the international front, we have continued to work closely with law enforcement agencies all over the world to combat irregular migration. The introduction of biometric passports is one of the preventive measures that many countries are interested in. Pursuant to ICAO's recommendation for enhancing the security of travel documents, the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council granted on March 4, 2005, $153 million to the department for the introduction of biometric HKSAR passports (ePassports). The ePassport will contain a non-contact integrated circuit chip that stores the holder's photo image and personal particulars. The department is now developing a new system for the issue of the ePassport. It is expected to be implemented in early 2007.
On civil registration, the Marriage (Introduction of Civil Celebrants of Marriages and General Amendments) Ordinance (Commencement) Notice to provide for the appointment of civil celebrants of marriages was gazetted on January 13, 2006. It is expected that the first batch of civil celebrants will be appointed in the second quarter, when members of the public will be able to enjoy more flexible marriage solemnisation services.
Ends/Monday, January 23, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:39
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