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The Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Region Governments have come to an agreement which will further facilitate the immigration clearance of Hong Kong and Macao residents.
The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, today (November 24) in Hong Kong signed a Memorandum on "Entry and Exit with Permanent Resident Identity Card and Mutual Exemption from Furnishing Arrival/Departure Cards" with the Secretary for Administration and Justice of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Ms Florinda da Rosa Silva Chan.
A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government spokesman said the signing of the memorandum signified a new era in the facilitation of travel convenience between the two Special Administrative Regions.
The spokesman said the memorandum had realised the principle of mutual co-operation, and Hong Kong residents will benefit from the measures as follows:
(a) Holders of valid Hong Kong permanent identity cards or Hong Kong identity cards containing '*', '***' or 'R' symbol can continue using their Hong Kong identity cards to travel to Macao but they do not need to furnish arrival/departure cards upon immigration clearance in Macao. Hong Kong residents under the age of 11 should carry other identification documents with a photograph of the holder issued by the Director of Immigration (e.g. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport) as supporting proof of identity apart from the Hong Kong identity card.
(b) Hong Kong residents 11 years and older who have successfully enrolled may use the Macao Automated Passenger Clearance System (i.e. autogates) using their valid Hong Kong identity cards upon entering or exiting Macao.
The spokesman said the measure to exempt Hong Kong residents from furnishing arrival/departure cards would be implemented at all Macao immigration control points. Hong Kong residents who have successfully enrolled may use Macao autogates at the Exterior Harbour Control Point and the Border Gate Control Point. Both measures will be implemented together on December 10.
Hong Kong residents 11 years and older may attend the Enrolment Office specially set up at the Exterior Harbour Control Point (inside the Immigration Hall and in the area before Immigration clearance) to enrol for the service. Once enrolled, they may use the Macao autogates.
Those aged 18 or above may also use the self-enrolment kiosks set up at the Macao Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan and China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui by the Hong Kong Immigration Department. The Hong Kong Immigration Department will deploy staff to assist the applicants. After completion of the enrolment process in Hong Kong, applicants may use the Macao autogates after about five working days.
With the consent of the applicant, the Hong Kong Immigration Department will transfer, in a secured encrypted manner, the applicant's identity card information and fingerprint template to the Macao Immigration Department for processing of the application. The data will not be stored in the self-enrolment kiosks, but will be encrypted and transferred direct to servers in Macao via a data line.
People aged 11 to 17 are required to apply in person to the Enrolment Office at the Exterior Harbour Control Point accompanied either by their parents or legal guardian. Once enrolled, they may use the Macao autogates. To facilitate verification by the Macao authorities, the original copy of the following documents should be presented for the enrolment:
(i) Hong Kong identity card of the applicant and proof of identity of the accompanying parent or legal guardian;
(ii) birth certificate of the applicant;
(iii) if accompanied by a legal guardian, the proof of guardianship.
Holders of valid Hong Kong permanent identity cards or Hong Kong identity cards containing '*', '***' or 'R' symbol will be issued with a landing slip upon arrival in Macao, whether they use the Macao autogates or not. Though the loss of the landing slip will not affect their limit of stay and departure clearance in Macao, passengers are advised to keep the landing slip for inspection by the Macao authorities. Those who have lost the landing slip and wish to apply for a replacement may approach the headquarters of the Macao Immigration Department.
Ends/Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 14:50
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