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The Immigration Department today (December 16) introduced the automated passenger clearance system (e-channels) at departure hall of the Lo Wu control point by which Hong Kong permanent residents aged 11 or above holding smart identity cards can perform self-service departure clearance.

An Immigration Department spokesman said a small number of e-channels had been rolled out and the objective was to let people familiarise themselves with the operation of e-channel.

"To enter the e-channel is simple. People just have to insert their smart identity cards with the side bearing the arrow and chip into the card reader," the spokesman said. The system will take a while to perform mutual authentication with the smart identity card key. People can enter the e-channel when the gate doors open.

After entering the e-channel, people just need to place their thumbs flat on the centre of scanners. After fingerprint verification they can leave the e-channel.

Only one person is allowed to enter the e-channel at any one time. While a person is performing fingerprint verification inside the e-channel, the next one queuing in front of the e-channel may insert his smart identity card into the reader.

The spokesman said that the e-channel system deployed fingerprint verification technology for authentication of a person's identity. To get good fingerprint image, people just need to place the thumb flat on the centre of the scanner.

Through Announcement of Public Interest (API) and pamphlets, the Immigration Department will explain the best way to complete fingerprint verification process quickly.

The spokesman reminded people that if they registered their smart identity cards with fingers other than thumbs, those fingers should be used for identity verification. A person with unclear fingerprints may encounter difficulties in the verification process. To avoid delay, he may use traditional counters for clearance.

If people collect their smart identity cards by proxy, they need to activate their identity cards by verifying their fingerprints at the self-service kiosks located at the Smart Identity Card Centres, Registration of Persons Offices and control points before using e-channel.

The spokesman added that the Immigration Department would fine-tune the e-channels basing on the feedback from the public with a view to rolling out more e-channels to control points in phases.

Ends/Thursday, December 16, 2004

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