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Following is a summary of the Immigration Department’s major activities covered by the Director of Immigration, Mr. Lai Tung-kwok, at the department’s year-end briefing 2007 today (January 28):
Traffic at Control Points
Control Branch experienced a busy flow of passenger traffic in 2007. Almost 218 million passengers passed through our control points, up 7.7% compared with 2006. The total number of visitor arrivals reached 28 million, representing an increase of 11.5%, among which the Airport Control Points recorded a 6.9% increase, while land boundary control points and sea control points saw respective increases of 11.8% and 23.1%.
The Automated Passenger Clearance System was introduced at the end of 2004. By end-2007, a total of 350 passenger e-Channels (including five student e-Channels) and 80 vehicular e-Channels were installed at existing control points. As at year-end, an accumulated 208.6 million passengers had passed through passenger e-Channels and 13.9 million vehicles had passed through vehicular e-Channels. Since the implementation of e-Channels at various control points, the monthly usage figure increased steadily, with an average usage rate of more than 70%.
Operation of Control Points
Shenzhen Bay Control Point
The Shenzhen Bay Control Point began operation on July 1, 2007. The control point, which opens daily from 6.30am to midnight, is located at Shekou in Shenzhen and is the first boundary control point providing co-location of boundary crossing facilities to both passenger and vehicular traffic between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Immigration clearance of both sides is conducted within the same passenger terminal building, so, coach passengers will have to get on and off their coach only once.
A total of 38 traditional counters and 29 e-Channels have been installed inside the passenger hall. There are also 36 kiosks at the Passenger Clearance Area for processing of passengers who arrive by public transport or private cars; 64 kiosks at the Cargo Clearance Area handle goods vehicles. Immigration and Customs and Excise officers work alongside in kiosks thus providing one-stop clearance service to boundary-crossing vehicles.
By year-end, 4.4 million passengers and 571,000 vehicles had travelled through the Shenzhen Bay Control Point.
Lok Ma Chau SpurLine Control Point
The Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point (LMCSCP) came into operation on August 15, 2007. The control point, which operates daily from 6.30am to 10.30pm, is linked to Futian Port of Shenzhen by a two-level passenger bridge. Situated at Lok Ma Chau MTR Station, the control point serves rail passengers, although it is also accessible to passengers travelling by franchised bus, public light bus and taxi. There are 66 traditional counters and 70 e-Channels at the control point.
Passenger traffic at the LMCSCP has grown steadily since commissioning. From August to December, 2007, it handled a daily average of 35,251 passengers, with visitors accounting for 13%. Comparing the daily average throughput of August, 2007, with that of December, 2007, there was an increase of 35.7 %. By year-end, about 4.9 million passengers had travelled through the control point.
The opening of Shenzhen Bay Control Point and LMCSCP help alleviate the pressure on infrastructure and work of the existing boundary control points. While the overall land boundary passenger traffic recorded an increase of 6.9%, the passenger traffic at Lok Ma Chau and Man Kam To recorded a decrease, the first in many years. Similarly, there was a 1.3% increase in the overall vehicular traffic in 2007, but the volumes in Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok showed a slight decrease. In the 4th quarter of 2007, Shenzhen Bay and LMCSCP shared 5.5% and 8% of the overall land boundary passenger traffic respectively, and 7.2% of the overall vehicular traffic in the second half of 2007.
Airport Terminal 2
A new departure hall has been operating in the new Terminal 2 of Hong Kong International Airport since February 28, 2007. Sixteen immigration counters and three e-Channels are installed to handle more than 270 flights a week. To meet demand, the daily operation hours were extended from the initial 18 hours to 20 hours from October 8.
Replacement of two Immigration Launches
To further combat illicit activities and provide more efficient immigration services at sea, two new immigration launches came into operation in February and April, 2007, respectively to replace two old launches in the Immigration fleet. The new vessels have a maximum carrying capacity of four crew members and 24 passengers, and can reach a maximum speed of 25 knots which is double that of the old vessels. Advanced electronic equipment such as differential global positioning system, maritime radar, echo sounder and digital night vision telescopes are installed. To enhance efficiency and effectiveness of immigration control at sea and facilitate operations on vessels to combat illegal migration, there is a plan to install a mobile faces recognition system (mobile FACES) on the vessels in early 2008.
Non-local Pregnant Visitors
To complement the new obstetric service arrangements implemented by the Administration and the Hospital Authority on February 1, 2007, the Immigration Department has stepped up arrival checks of all visitors who are at an advanced stage of pregnancy ( 28 weeks or above). Those visitors, whose purpose of visit is believed to be giving birth in Hong Kong, are required to produce proof of booking arrangements with a local hospital. Any visitor who cannot meet the immigration requirements concerned may be persuaded to leave. By end-2007, 32,468 pregnant visitors had been invited for secondary examination and 2,499 (7.7%) who failed to meet immigration requirements were persuaded to leave. According to the Hospital Authority, the number of deliveries admitted via Accident and Emergency Departments by non-eligible persons has dropped by 90.5% since the implementation of the new measures, from a weekly average of 209 in December, 2006, to 19.8 in December, 2007.
Facilitation of People Movement
e-Channel Services to be enjoyed by more Hong Kong residents
To cater for the upsurge of cross-boundary students at the Lo Wu Control Point, five designated e-Channels (three for arrivals and two for departures) have been on a trial run since December, 2007. Designated counters have also been reserved during peak hours to facilitate the clearance of cross-boundary students at this control point since September, 2007.
Policies to Attract Capital and Talent
Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)
The QMAS was implemented on June 28, 2006. The scheme seeks to attract highly skilled or talented people from the Mainland and overseas to settle in Hong Kong to enhance Hong Kong’s economic competitiveness in the global market. The scheme is quota based. Applicants are required to fulfil a set of prerequisites before they can be awarded points under one of the two points-based tests - the “General Points Test” (GPT) and “Achievement-based Points Test” (APT), and compete for quota allocation with other applicants. Successful applicants are not required to secure an offer of local employment before taking up residence in Hong Kong.
Since the scheme was launched and up to the end of 2007, 1,214 applications were received. Five selection exercises were conducted and 322 applicants were allotted quotas, 280 under the GPT and 42 under the APT. Successful applicants under the GPT are mainly from Financial and Accounting Services, Information Technology and Telecommunications, and Commerce and Trade. Under the APT, successful applicants came from Sports, Arts and Culture as well as Broadcasting and Entertainment.
Changes have been made to the scheme since January 15, 2008, in order to cast a wider net for quality migrants. The changes include: lifting the upper age limit of 50; adjusting the marking scheme under the GPT so that younger degree holders have a better chance of meeting the minimum passing mark for further assessment; giving marks to applicants with “two to five years” working experience; and giving extra marks to those who are proficient in a foreign language in addition to Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) or English. The extension of stay requirement for entrants admitted through APT has also been streamlined. The Immigration Department will grant an extension to an APT entrant and his/her dependants if we are satisfied that he/she has the financial means to sustain their living in Hong Kong. The new marking scheme will apply to all applications already submitted and not yet finalised.
Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES)
The CIES, launched on October 27, 2003, has been well received and has successfully attracted entrants who are bringing in new capital. At end-2007, 3,705 applications had been received. The reported personal assets amount to an average of $23.94 million per applicant.
Of the 3,705 applicants, 1,800 had made the requisite investments and were given formal approval to reside in Hong Kong. They had invested a total of $12.82 billion in permissible investment assets, an average of $7.12 million per entrant, which exceeded the requisite investment of $6.5 million by 9.5%. In 2007, 822 applicants were given formal approval, an increase of 116% when compared with 2006. Another 360 applicants were given approval-in-principle to enter Hong Kong.
Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP)
The ASMTP, implemented on July 15, 2003, has attracted a wider variety of qualified talent and professionals from the Mainland to come to work in Hong Kong.
In 2007, 6,075 applications were approved, representing an increase of 21% compared to 2006. The companies concerned considered that the Mainland professionals enhanced efficiency/productivity of their companies, broadened their business profile and fostered collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland.
Relaxation of the Dependant Policy
With effect from June 1, 2007, Mainland spouses and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 of certain categories of people may be admitted as their dependants. These categories include people admitted under the General Employment Policy, entrants under the CIES, foreigners and overseas Chinese admitted under the QMAS, overseas Chinese admitted for employment, and overseas students admitted for studying in full-time degree or above level programmes in local institutions. The relaxation aims to attract and retain overseas talent to work and settle in Hong Kong.
Law Enforcement
Combating Forged Travel Documents
The department has put in a concerted effort to combat travel document forgery. The number of operations against forgery activities increased from 20,171 in 2006 to 21,538 in 2007. The deterrent effect was obvious. The number of forged travel documents detected decreased by 33% from 2,387 in 2006 to 1,598 in 2007. The department is committed to get to the root of the problem by smashing syndicates. To this end, we will conduct thorough investigations on users in order to trace the source.
Face Recognition System
The Face Recognition System, implemented in December, 2004, has greatly facilitated the work of officers at control points, investigation and visa-control offices to verify the identity of suspected passengers, immigration offenders and visa applicants. The system has been effective in detecting people who attempt to hide their true identities by using unlawfully obtained or altered documents. As at end-2007, 994 people who attempted to circumvent immigration control by using false identities had been identified.
Deterrent to Global Illegal Migration Activities
The department has, for years, joined forces with international law enforcement agencies to combat global illegal migration that involves the extensive use of document fraud.
Latest intelligence revealed a growing trend of syndicates arranging illegal migrants to impersonate other people and use their boarding passes to board flights heading for their destinations. In 2007, immigration investigators apprehended 26 boarding pass swappers. Six of them were successfully prosecuted and consideration of prosecuting Thirteen others were under way. The department will continue its efforts to curb such illegal activities.
Bogus Marriages Uncovered
The department has been very concerned with non-Hong Kong residents obtaining stay in Hong Kong by means of bogus marriage. A special task force has been set up to gather intelligence through various avenues and a thorough investigation will be conducted once evidence comes to light. If there is enough evidence, the department will launch prosecutions.
In 2007, 139 Mainland residents and 101 Hong Kong residents were convicted of offences relating to bogus marriages. The 240 people convicted, including matchmakers and syndicate members, were sentenced to jail terms ranging from 4 to 28 months.
Enforcement Actions Against Illegal Employment
In 2007, 9,606 operations against illegal employment were conducted. As a result, 6,399 suspected illegal workers and 699 employers were arrested.
CAT Screening
The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) has been extended to Hong Kong. In 2007, a total of 1,583 torture claim cases (involving 1,584 people) were received, up 208% compared with 514 cases (involving 528 people) in 2006. The majority of the claimants came from South Asian and African countries. Inquiries reveal that most of the claimants lodged their torture claims only after having been arrested for contravening the laws in Hong Kong or having been notified of their removal. About 47% of the claimants entered Hong Kong illegally and about 93% of them laid torture claims after having stayed in Hong Kong for more than one year.
To guard against abuse, we have stepped up our pre-entry and entry controls. We have also strengthened the manpower resources to expedite the processing of the claims. We are determined to contain the abuse of the torture claim system.
Travel documents
HKSAR Passport Applications
Since February 5, 2007, we have accepted applications for HKSAR Electronic Passport (e-Passport). To enhance our service, we also implemented the ‘online application for HKSAR Passport’ on December 22, 2007. Applicants aged 18 and above may choose to submit their applications for e-Passport through internet. They may also choose to submit their applications in person at our offices, by post or put their applications in the drop-in boxes located at any one of the Immigration Offices. We believe that the online application option will be welcomed and widely used by applicants. However, the pilot facility is not applicable to replacement passport applications due to loss/damage or change of personal particulars, and these applications must be submitted in person.
During the year, 538,723 HKSAR passport applications were received and 459,413 passports were issued.
Visa-free Access for HKSAR Passport Holders
At present, 135 countries/territories have granted visa-free access or visa on arrival to holders of HKSAR passports. In 2007, Republic of Fiji Islands was added to the list while Republic of Ghana was removed. The department will continue to lobby for visa-free access for HKSAR passport holders to visit more countries/territories.
Conclusion of Hong Kong Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise
The Hong Kong Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise, launched on August 18, 2003, was completed on March 31, 2007. Up to end-2007, the department had issued 7,740,242 smart identity cards including 5,384,164 cards issued under the replacement exercise and 2,356,078 first registration and replacement identity cards.
Assistance to Hong Kong Residents in Distress Outside Hong Kong
The Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) works closely with the Security Bureau, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our diplomatic and consular missions overseas, the Office of the HKSAR Government in Beijing (Beijing Office), the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong (GDETO) as well as other government departments to provide assistance to Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong. In 2007, 1,474 requests were handled.
Hong Kong Resident who was robbed and seriously injured in Australia
The AHU received request for assistance in November, 2006, that a male Hong Kong resident was seriously injured in a robbery case. He received medical treatment in Australia. AHU maintained close liaison with his family members, Chinese Embassy in Australia, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Sydney and other government departments to provide assistance to the victim, including his returning to Hong Kong. The injured man and his family members returned to Hong Kong in December, 2007.
Hong Kong Resident fell into a volcano in Africa
In the incident where a Hong Kong resident died after falling into the crater of a rumbling volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo in July 7, 2007, AHU worked closely with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong and the Chinese Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo to provide practical assistance to the family member of the deceased.
Civil Celebrants of Marriages Scheme
The Civil Celebrants of Marriages Scheme was launched in March 13, 2006. As at end-2007, a total of 1,260 lawyers/notary publics had been appointed as civil celebrants. The scheme has been well received, as it provides more choices, greater flexibility and greater convenience in the arrangements for weddings. As at end-2007, 26,658 marriage notices were given through civil celebrants, representing 29.68% of total applications. A total of 25,552 marriages were solemnised by civil celebrants, representing 30.17% of total marriage registrations.
As part of the demand for marriage solemnisation services being taken up by civil celebrants, one of the two marriage halls at the City Hall Marriage Registry was closed from January 2, 2008, to better utilise resources. The department will continue to monitor the services provided by civil celebrants and review the running of the scheme, so as to ensure that members of the public are able to enjoy flexible, diversified and satisfactory marriage solemnisation services.
Information Systems
IT Awards
The Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Awards (APTICA) 2007
The "e-Passport System" won the top prize under the category of "e-Community and e-Government" of the "Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Awards (APTICA) 2007" held in Singapore in November, 2007. It is a great honour for the department, as we have won the award for four consecutive years - with the "Smart Identity Card System" in 2004, "Face Recognition System" in 2005 and the "e-Channel" in 2006.
World Summit Award 2007
The "e-Channel" also won the "China Nomination Award" conferred by the China Nomination Committee to represent China to participate in the United Nations' World Summit Contest in the "e-Government" category. This is the second time the department won this award since 2005
Hong Kong Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Awards 2007
In the ‘Hong Kong Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Awards 2007’, the ‘e-Passport System’ won the ‘Best Business Award Gold Award’ while the ‘e-Passport Self-service Kiosk’ won the ‘Best Innovation and Research Award (Open) Silver Award’.
Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2007
Our ‘Control Point System’ is the Champion of the ‘Team Award – Application of Technology’ in the ‘Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2007’, whereas the ‘e-Channel’ won the Merit Award for the ‘Innovation Team Award’. This is testimony of the recognition of the department’s efforts in Innovation and Application of Technology.
In the ‘Government’ category of the ‘Computerworld Honors Programme 2007’ organised by the Computerworld Information Technology Awards Foundation in Washington DC, USA, the ‘Control Point System’ also won the ‘Laureate Medal’ and the ‘Finalist Award’.
Recruitment of Service Staff
A total of 181 Immigration Officers (IO) and 299 Immigration Assistants (IA) were recruited in 2006. These new recruits received intensive induction training by batches from July, 2007. The first batch of IA trainees completed training and joined the workforce in November, 2007. By the first quarter of 2008, it is expected that all IA and IO trainees will complete their training and be ready to serve the public.
Training and Development
Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development (ISITD)
The ISITD provides high quality training services and learning resources to Immigration Service Grade staff. It is responsible for ascertaining the training needs, formulating the annual training and development plan, implementing training activities and evaluating the effectiveness of training programmes. It also promotes the culture of “life-long learning” in the department.
In 2007, a total of 676 new recruits including 193 Immigration Officers and 483 Immigration Assistants received induction training, while 2,875 Immigration staff attended in-service training.
The ISITD also provided trainings to other staff, such as Customer Service Workshops for clerical grades staff and Workshops on Violence at Work for other frontline staff.
Mainland and Macao/Macau Training and Exchange Programme
The department continued to foster a closer working relationship with the Mainland and Macao/Macao counterparts by arranging training and exchange programmes for Immigration service staff as well as for Mainland officials. In 2007, a total of 40 staff participated in training visits to the Mainland including Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), Shenyang (瀋陽), Chongqing (重慶) and Hunan (湖南). The department also organised study programmes at the ISITD for 247 Mainland officials. Five Immigration staff participated in training programmes organised by the Macao SAR.
Overseas Training and Exchange Programmes
Overseas training can broaden officers’ perspective, enhance their professional knowledge and develop their management and leadership skills. In 2007, six officers were sent to the United Kingdom, USA, Singapore and Thailand for study visits or attended courses on administration, management, crime investigation, information systems and forgery detection.
To facilitate sharing of experience and expertise with officers of other countries or regions, six officers were sent to the Republic of Korea and two officers to France on exchange programmes. Study programmes at the ISITD were organised for six immigration officers from Korea in 2007.
Vision for 2008
New Control Points and Diversion of Boundary Traffic
To further alleviate pressure at land boundary control points such as Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau, the Immigration Department has encouraged tour agents and the related industry to increase using the Shenzhen Bay Control Point and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. We will continue to closely monitor the diversion effect, and also liaise with other stakeholders and Shenzhen authorities to assess the need for adjusting service hours of the new control points to provide better service to travellers.
Cross-boundary Students
To further facilitate cross-boundary students, the department is now actively exploring with concerned bureaus/departments the feasibility of providing “on-board clearance” to students who will take franchised cross-boundary school buses.
e-Channels for Frequent Visitors
Following the extension of e-Channel service to cross-boundary primary students on December 18, 2007, the department plans to further extend the scope of self-service immigration clearance this year to frequent visitors such as holders of HKSAR Travel Pass, Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Business Travel Card and Hong Kong International Airport Frequent Visitor Card. After undergoing a simple enrolment process, eligible travellers may use their travel documents for immigration clearance via the e-Channels at the airport.
Self-service Kiosks for Passport Applications
To further facilitate Hong Kong residents aged 18 and above apply for e-Passport, we plan to implement the ‘Self-service Kiosks’ for passport applications in the first half of this year. The ‘Self-service Kiosks’ will be installed at the Immigration Headquarters and branch offices.
Developing Hong Kong as a regional education hub
The Chief Executive announced in his 2007-08 Policy Address that the Administration would take measures to enhance Hong Kong’s status as a regional education hub and bring young, new and high quality talent into our population. The measures include allowing non-local students to take up study-related internships as arranged by institutions, allowing non-local students to take up part-time on-campus jobs and off-campus summer jobs, and relaxing the restrictions on taking up employment after graduation in Hong Kong. The Immigration Department is actively working on the details in collaboration with relevant bureaus and departments, which will be announced in due course.
Ends/Monday, January 28, 2008
Issued at HKT 23:35
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