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The Immigration Department will start to implement the territory-wide Identity (ID) Card Replacement Exercise on 18 August 2003 (Monday).
"Existing ID card holders will be called up through public announcements to attend the Smart ID Card Centres in groups, in accordance with their year of birth, to have their ID cards replaced within specified periods in the coming four years," an Immigration Department spokesman said today (August 4).
The Secretary for Security has issued an Order announcing the details of the first four phases of the replacement exercise as follows -
1st phase:
Members of the Immigration Service, Police officers and labour inspectors
may apply with effect from 18 August 2003 to 15 November 2003
2nd phase:
Holders of existing ID card who were born in 1968 or 1969
may apply with effect from 15 September 2003 to 15 November 2003
3rd phase:
Holders of existing ID card who were born in 1966 or 1967
may apply with effect from 17 November 2003 to 10 January 2004
4th phase:
Holders of existing ID card who were born in 1964 or 1965
may apply with effect from 12 January 2004 to 13 March 2004
An option is also provided for the Chief Executive, Members of the Executive Council and the Legislative Council and principal officials to replace their ID cards in the first phase of the Exercise (i.e. from 18 August 2003 to 15 November 2003).
The spokesman added that nine Smart ID Card Centres will be opened to accept applications under the replacement exercise. Residents must attend in person to have their ID cards replaced at any one of the Centres, which will be opened Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 9.15 pm. Details of the addresses and telephone numbers of the Smart ID Card Centres are as follows:
Hong Kong Smart ID Card Centre
6th Floor, Elizabeth House, 250-254 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay.
(Causeway Bay MTR Station - Exit C)
Tel: 2834 4717
East Kowloon Smart ID Card Centre
1st Floor, World Trade Square, 123 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong.
(Ngau Tau Kok MTR Station - Exit B6)
Tel: 2759 5102
West Kowloon Smart ID Card Centre
Lower Ground Floor, Tsim Sha Tsui Centre, 66 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East.
Tel: 2368 5454
Tsuen Wan Smart ID Card Centre
2nd Floor, Smartland, 36 - 60 Texaco Road, Tai Wo Hau, Tsuen Wan.
(Tai Wo Hau MTR Station - Exit B)
Tel: 2149 5040
Sha Tin Smart ID Card Centre
13th Floor, Tower II, Grand Central Plaza, 138 Sha Tin Rural Committee Road, Sha Tin.
(Sha Tin Railway Station - Exit B)
Tel: 2634 0965
Sheung Shui Smart ID Card Centre
13th Floor, Landmark North, 39 Lung Sum Avenue, Sheung Shui.
(Sheung Shui Railway Station - Exit B)
Tel: 2672 2644
Tuen Mun Smart ID Card Centre
1st Floor, Rosedale Gardens, 133 Castle Peak Road, San Hui, Tuen Mun.
(Light Rail - Hoh Fuk Tong Station)
Tel: 2404 6867
Yuen Long Smart ID Card Centre
Basement 1, Kingswood Ginza (Shopping Arcade), 18 Tin Yan Road (Phase 2), Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long. (Light Rail - Tin Shui Wai Terminus)
Tel: 2146 1990
Tseung Kwan O Smart ID Card Centre
Shop No. B7-B10, Podium Level 1, Nan Fung Plaza, 8 Pui Shing Road, Tseung Kwan O.
(Hang Hau MTR Station - Exit B2)
Tel: 2274 4797
An appointment booking system has been set up to receive bookings for the replacement exercise. Booking can be made 14 days in advance of the commencement of each phase by telephone 1838 333, or via ESDlife website: www.esd.gov.hk, or at any ESD kiosk.
"Applicants are encouraged to book an appointment in advance if they want to ensure that a quota is available at the chosen time slot", the Immigration Department spokesman said.
"Booking can only be made by residents who belong to the right age group. If you are not eligible to apply, your booking will not be accepted."
The Smart ID Card Centres will only handle applications arising from the ID Card Replacement Exercise. Other applications will continue to be dealt with at the Registration of Persons Offices.
Details of the territory-wide ID Card Replacement Exercise are publicized in an information leaflet "Hong Kong Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise" which can be obtained from the Immigration Headquarters and other branch offices, HKPost Offices, District Offices and public libraries. Residents are encouraged to read this leaflet before submitting applications.
The spokesman added that residents who are not eligible to apply in the first phase should watch out for further publicity announcement which will be issued by the Immigration Department as and when the replacement exercise rolled out.
For further information on the territory-wide ID Card Replacement Exercise, please telephone the Immigration Department on 2824 6111, by fax 2877 7711 or through internet www.smartid.gov.hk.
Ends/Monday, August 4, 2003
Issued at HKT 19:01
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