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Following is a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, to a question by the Dr Hon Lau Wong-fat in the Legislative Council today (November 28):
Question:
Regarding applications for passports of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR passports) through the Internet, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of applications for HKSAR passports in the past five years, together with a breakdown by the means of application (in person, by post, putting in drop-in boxes and online);
(b) of the number of cases in the past five years in which the applicants, who originally intended to apply for HKSAR passports through the Internet, had to submit their applications by other means because the digital photographs they submitted had been rejected; and
(c) whether it will improve the programme for accepting online submission of passport photographs in order to increase the success rate of applications for HKSAR passports through the Internet?
Reply:
President,
The reply is as follows:
(a) In the past five years, the number of HKSAR passport applications through various means is at the Annex.
(b) The Immigration Department (ImmD) does not have information on the number of HKSAR passport applications which were submitted by means other than online application due to rejection of digital photographs.
(c) At present, 147 countries / territories have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders. One of the main reasons for HKSAR passports to be accepted widely is its high level of security standards, including photographs of applicants which would be accepted only if they meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). To this end, the ImmD has stipulated the acceptable format of digital photographs for online applications to ensure they meet the ICAO standards.
The ImmD has set out the photograph requirements (including the acceptable format of digital photographs for online applications) in the leaflet attached to the application form and the relevant website (www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/traveldoc/photorequirements.htm). Applicants should refer to the required photograph specifications before submitting the online applications. Members of the public may call the hotline 3128 8668 if they have any questions concerning online application for HKSAR passport.
Ends/Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Issued at HKT 13:14
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