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Holders of existing Hong Kong identity cards who were born in 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936 or 1937 are required to apply for a smart identity card by February 10, 2007, at a Smart Identity Card Centre.
"Response from applicants has been very good since we started to accept advanced bookings for an appointment to apply for the smart identity card at the preferred time slot for the current call-up phase," a spokesman for the Immigration Department said today (January 18).
All the time slots for advanced booking for the Hong Kong Smart Identity Card Centre and Tsuen Wan Smart Identity Card Centre are already full until the end of the phase (February 10). Some time slots are still unfilled for the other Smart Identity Card Centres, such as Tseung Kwan O, Sheung Shui, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Sha Tin, and Kowloon East and applicants may consider to book their appointments at these centres. Advanced bookings can be made by calling the 24-hour service hotline 1838 333 or visiting the ESDlife website at www.esd.gov.hk.
"To provide service to applicants who have not made any advanced booking, we have set aside some time slots at each centre to cater for "walk-in" applications. However, such time slots are limited and we would like to encourage the applicants to make use of our advanced booking system as far as possible," the spokesman said.
Applicants were reminded to attend the Smart Identity Card Centres punctually at the reserved time slot. If an applicant is unable to attend at the chosen time slot, he should change or cancel the appointment as early as possible, so that the reserved time slot can be released for use by other applicants. Change or cancellation of appointment can only be accepted at least one working day before the chosen time slot.
If applicants' identity cards bear the "A" residential symbol or "***" symbol, or their identity cards were issued on or after January 1, 1999, and bear the "R" residential symbol, they need only bring their existing identity cards. Other eligible applicants should bring along their travel documents showing their current residential status in Hong Kong in addition to their existing identity cards. After application, an applicant may authorise a representative to collect the new identity card on his behalf.
For further information about the Replacement Exercise, please visit www.smartid.gov.hk or call the Immigration Department hotline, 2824 6111.
Ends/Thursday, January 18, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:27
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