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Starting from next Monday (September 15), existing identity (ID) card holders who were born in 1968 or 1969 should attend a Smart ID Card Centre in person to apply for the new smart ID cards under the Hong Kong Smart ID Card Replacement Exercise.

An Immigration spokesman said, "Response from applicants has been very good since we first started to accept advanced bookings for an appointment to apply for the smart ID card at the preferred time slot on September 1. The time slots available for advanced booking in the first week are already full for some Smart ID Card Centres, and there is no more time slot left for all the nine Smart ID Card Centres on the first day (September 15)."

"Majority of the applicants prefer to submit their applications between 8am and 11am in the morning, or after 6pm in the evening or on Saturdays. Some time slots are still available for advanced booking at individual Smart ID Card Centres between 2pm and 5pm. Applicants may also consider to apply in other Smart ID Card Centres, e.g. the East Kowloon Smart ID Card Centre in Kwun Tong where some time slots are still unfilled."

"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 reminded the applicants to attend the Smart ID Card Centres punctually at the reserved time slot. If an applicant is unable to attend at the chosen time slot, he should notify the Immigration Department as early as possible. "Change of appointment can only be accepted not less than two working days before the chosen time slot. Those who are unable to attend in time should change or cancel the booking as soon as possible, so that the reserved time slot can be released for use by other applicants. Meanwhile, "walk-in" applicants should avoid attending the Smart ID Card Centres during the busy hours as mentioned above. Since a nine-week period is available for persons born in 1968 or 1969 to apply for replacement of their ID cards, there is no urgency for them to submit their applications in the first few days. "

Advanced bookings can be made via hotline 1838 333 or www.esd.gov.hk or at any ESD kiosk.

"All eligible applicants should bring along their existing ID cards. If their ID cards do not bear the 'A', '***' or 'R' symbols, they should also bring along their travel documents showing their current residential status in Hong Kong," added the spokesman.

For further information, please visit www.smartid.gov.hk or telephone the Immigration Department hotline on 2824 6111.

End/Friday, September 12, 2003

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