***********************************
Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, to a question by the Hon Samson Tam in the Legislative Council today (October 27):
Question:
Regarding the waiting time for travellers visiting Hong Kong to go through immigration clearance, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the average waiting time for travellers to go through immigration clearance at the Hong Kong International Airport in each of the past six months, and how such figures compare with those of the same period for the past three years;
(b) whether at present there is any difference in the average waiting time for travellers with different types of travel documents or of different nationalities to go through immigration clearance; and
(c) whether the authorities had, in the past two years, studied how the time taken for completing immigration clearance can be shortened by using new technologies; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
(a) and (b) The Immigration Department (ImmD) has all along strived to provide efficient immigration clearance service to residents and visitors. Regarding the waiting time of visitors going through immigration clearance at the Hong Kong International Airport, the ImmD pledges to clear 95% of visitors within 15 minutes. The target has generally been met. The compliance situation in the past six months and its comparison with the past three years is set out as follows:
Completing clearance within 15 minutes
2010 September 99.0%
August 98.3%
July 98.7%
June 99.1%
May 98.6%
April 97.4%
2009 99.5%
2008 98.8%
2007 98.2%
ImmD does not have the breakdown on the waiting time for travellers of various nationalities or holding various types of travel documents.
(c) We have all along sought to apply new technologies with a view to shortening clearance time for both residents and visitors. In the past two years, we launched the frequent visitor e-Channel service at the Airport so as to allow eligible frequent visitors to use the service therein after enrolment. Since September 2009, this service has been extended to eligible members of frequent flyer programmes of various airlines.
From 2012 onwards, the Mainland authorities will issue by phases electronic "Exit-Entry Permits for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao" (e-EEP) for Mainland residents travelling to Hong Kong and Macao. ImmD has secured, in July 2010, funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for upgrading its computer system, to allow eligible and enrolled Mainland frequent visitors to use e-Channel service with their e-EEP by then.
Besides, ImmD has commissioned this March consultants to develop a new Information Systems Strategy to meet the challenges over the coming decade and enhance service standards. Among others, this will include enhancement of the information management system for the control points and possible applications of new technologies.
Ends/Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:16
NNNN
