The Director of Immigration, Mr Benson Kwok, held a press conference today (February 13) to review the work of the Immigration Department (ImmD) over the past year and look ahead to the future. The following is a summary of the ImmD's major activities in 2025 and its outlook:

Stay committed to its mission and safeguard national security

     As an integral part of the system for safeguarding national security, the ImmD has remained committed to thoroughly adopting the holistic approach to national security with patriotism and love for Hong Kong at its core, firmly guarding the country's southern gateway in strict accordance with all applicable laws and prevailing immigration policies, while striving to protect national sovereignty, security and development interests. It also actively supports the policy deployment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government by unswervingly implementing reforms and promoting innovation, so that the city may take another leap forward "from stability to prosperity" and better integrate into the overall national development. This helps reinforce and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international centre in finance, shipping and trade, contributing significantly to its long-term prosperity and stability, as well as social harmony and development.

Enhance efficiency and facilitate connection and integration

(A) Passenger traffic at control points

     In 2025, a total of around 335 million passengers passed through Hong Kong's control points, representing an increase of about 12 per cent over 2024 - a new record high surpassing the 300 million level in 2019. The total number of visitor arrivals was around 49.89 million, representing an increase of about 12 per cent as compared with that of 2024, of which Mainland visitor arrivals were around 37.83 million, representing an increase of about 11 per cent when compared with that of 2024. Meanwhile, the number of arrivals of other visitors was around 12.06 million, representing an increase of about 15 per cent over 2024. Among the visitor arrivals in 2025, around 11.22 million visitors travelled through the Airport Control Point, while around 36.87 million visitors and around 1.81 million visitors passed through land control points and sea control points respectively.
 
(B) Winning the 2025 Skytrax Award for Best Airport Immigration Service
 
     In 2025, the ImmD won the Skytrax Award for Best Airport Immigration Service for the fifth time in the World Passenger Survey commissioned by Skytrax, an international specialist research agent of the air transport industry. The survey, covering about 600 airports worldwide, collected ratings from over 13 million air passengers of more than 100 countries on the immigration service of various airports. The ImmD will continue to strive for excellence by leveraging innovative technologies to introduce more facilitation measures for visitors and deliver higher-quality immigration services.

(C) Facilitation of people movement

(1) Extension of e-Channel service  

     To further enhance the clearance efficiency of the control points, the ImmD continues to extend the e-Channel service so that more Hong Kong residents and visitors may enjoy fast and convenient self-service immigration clearance. In 2025, for Hong Kong permanent residents holding a smart identity card, transit passengers holding a Chinese electronic ordinary passport, and visitors holding an Electronic Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao as well as those using "Smart Departure", the eligible age for using the e-Channel service was lowered from 11 to 7 years old. As at the end of 2025, the number of children aged between 7 and 10 using the e-Channels was around 1.08 million. Furthermore, the ImmD launched the "Face Easy e-Channel" service at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) in September 2025, allowing eligible Hong Kong residents to complete arrival clearance through facial recognition technology, without the need to present any documents or the Contactless e-Channel encrypted QR code throughout the process. As at the end of 2025, the number of eligible Hong Kong residents using the service was around 260 000.

(2) Providing immigration facilitation to the 15th National Games  

     The ImmD fully supported the 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games held in 2025. To facilitate travel among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for delegations, athletes and staff from various regions during the NG, the ImmD had set up dedicated immigration channels at the control points at HKIA, West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Shenzhen Bay, providing 16 e-Channels in total for registered athletes and related personnel to perform immigration clearance in a self-service manner through facial recognition technology. As for cross-boundary events, the ImmD adopted the innovative pre-clearance inspection and closed-loop management model in collaboration with the National Games Coordination Office, relevant government departments, as well as immigration authorities of the Mainland and Macao to achieve zero delay, zero contact, and zero waiting time during immigration clearance. Close communication was maintained throughout so that a cross-boundary road cycling event and marathon event were conducted seamlessly and smoothly.
 
Trawl for talent to enhance Hong Kong as an international hub for talent
 
     Adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC Central Committee), the Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization supports Hong Kong's position to become an international hub for high-calibre talent. Also, as announced in the Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address, Hong Kong Talent Engage will strengthen its efforts in talent attraction and support, with a view to attracting more talent to pursue development in Hong Kong. In support of the HKSAR Government's proactive measures to attract and retain talent, the ImmD continues to implement various enhanced talent admission schemes. In January 2025, the ImmD further stepped up its electronic services for visa applications by allowing applicants to complete the entire application process through the ImmD mobile application, the ImmD's website or the GovHK website, without having to visit an Immigration office in person. For details of the numbers of applications for visas/entry permits/extension of stay received and approved under various admission schemes/policies, please refer to the Annex.
 
(A) Enhancing talent admission schemes

(1) Admitting professionals of specified skilled trades and updating the Talent List  

     The HKSAR Government introduced a new channel under the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) in June 2025, allowing outside individuals to apply for entry into Hong Kong to join the eight skilled trades facing acute manpower shortages as listed on the Technical Professional List. This arrangement will be piloted for three years with an overall application quota of 10 000, and the application quota for each skilled trade is limited to 3 000. Applicants must meet the requirements as stated in the Technical Professional List and be aged between 18 and 40. Depending on the specific skilled trade and the applicant's qualifications, the first entry visa is normally valid for 24 or 36 months. Furthermore, the updated Talent List took effect in March 2025 with nine newly added professions, covering a total of 60 professions with local talent shortages. Outside talent meeting the eligibility criteria for relevant professions can enjoy immigration facilitation when applying for admission under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), the GEP and the ASMTP.

(2) Launching further enhancement measures for the Technology Talent Admission Scheme  

     The HKSAR Government launched further enhancement measures for the Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS) on December 24, 2025. They include streamlining application procedures to allow technology companies and eligible talent to submit applications for quotas and visas/entry permits in parallel; lifting the requirement for engaging in research and development (R&D) activities in the 14 designated technology areas; and launching a dedicated application channel for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park. These measures enable eligible companies to expedite recruitment of innovation and technology (I&T) talent from around the world and facilitate their technology-related R&D activities in Hong Kong, thereby fostering Hong Kong's I&T development.

(3) Immigration facilitation schemes for persons participating in arbitral proceedings and short-term activities in designated sectors  

     The HKSAR Government regularised and refined the Pilot Scheme on Facilitation for Persons Participating in Arbitral Proceedings in Hong Kong in March 2025, and renamed it the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Persons Participating in Arbitral Proceedings in Hong Kong. The refined scheme now covers five categories of eligible persons as well as all arbitrations physically taking place in Hong Kong. Moreover, the HKSAR Government further expanded the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors in November 2025 to cover five new sectors in addition to the original 12 designated sectors. More authorised organisations and specified short-term activities have also been included. This allows more non-local talent to participate in specified short-term activities in Hong Kong as visitors without the need to apply for an employment visa/entry permit.
 
(B) Launching the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Invited Persons
 
     The HKSAR Government launched the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Invited Persons in March 2025 to provide more convenient immigration arrangements for invited persons from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, in order to promote economic and trade exchanges and cultural co-operation between Hong Kong and ASEAN. Under the Scheme, relevant bureaux/departments will actively invite ASEAN nationals who can make considerable contributions to Hong Kong's economic development, or those who have been invited to attend important events in Hong Kong to enjoy immigration facilitation. The ImmD will process the applications from these invited persons through a one-stop electronic platform, relax the application criteria for self-service immigration clearance, and simplify the information required for visa applications.
 
(C) Relaxing visa arrangements for nationals of the Belt and Road countries
 
     To reinforce Hong Kong's role as a "super connector" under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, the ImmD has relaxed the visa arrangements in respect of various Belt and Road countries. Since January 2025, the visa-free period for nationals of Saudi Arabia to visit Hong Kong for travel has been extended from 30 days to 90 days. Moreover, starting from September 2025, the ImmD relaxed the criteria for nationals of four Central Asian countries (namely Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) applying for multiple-entry visas to Hong Kong for business and travel purposes, with a view to promoting economic and trade as well as tourism development between Hong Kong and Central Asia.
 
Be people-oriented and improve livelihoods in pursuit of happiness

(A) Conclusion of Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise and invalidation of old form of smart identity cards

     Following the conclusion of the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise on March 3, 2023, all Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres have ceased to operate and the On-site Identity Card Replacement Service also concluded in the first quarter of 2025. The old form of smart identity cards issued before November 26, 2018, became invalid in two phases in 2025. As well, the Registration of Persons (ROP) - Kwun Tong (Temporary) Office, which was established to meet the post-pandemic demand for identity card replacement, also ceased to operate in October 2025 as planned. After its closure, members of the public may still visit the other six ROP Offices for identity card applications. As at the end of 2025, a total of some 7.46 million identity card holders had replaced their smart identity cards. The replacement rate was about 93 per cent.

(B) Issue of HKSAR passports and visa-free access for their holders  

     In 2025, the ImmD issued a total of more than 700 000 HKSAR passports. In January 2025, the ImmD announced that HKSAR passport holders may apply for single-entry or multiple-entry tourist visas upon arrival at six designated control points in Saudi Arabia. From May 2025 onwards, HKSAR passport holders may visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates visa-free for a stay of up to 30 days, and the visa-free period for visiting the Sultanate of Oman has also been extended from 10 days to 14 days. In November 2025, the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria agreed to grant visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders for a stay of up to 14 days. As at the end of 2025, a total of 174 countries or territories had granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders. The ImmD will continue to lobby more countries or territories to grant visa-free access or a visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders to provide greater travel convenience.

(C) Services and support for Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong
 
(1) Assistance to Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong

     The ImmD's Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) has been making every effort to provide assistance to Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong. The AHU maintains close contact with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR (OCMFA), Chinese diplomatic and consular missions overseas and other relevant HKSAR government departments to provide all practicable assistance to those in need. In 2025, the AHU handled 3 388 requests for assistance in total, most of which involved loss of travel documents, hospitalisation or casualties, etc outside Hong Kong. In addition, the ImmD continued to follow up on cases of Hong Kong residents suspected of being lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work. Between January and March 2025, officers of the ImmD and members of the Security Bureau's dedicated task force visited Thailand four times to assist the residents concerned in returning to Hong Kong. Following a severe earthquake in Myanmar in March 2025, the HKSAR Government deployed a search and rescue team, including two ImmD officers, to a quake-stricken area to assist in the search and rescue work. This was the second overseas rescue operation conducted by the HKSAR Government since the earthquake in Türkiye in 2023. In June 2025, amid the escalating tension between Iran and Israel, the ImmD received enquiries from 21 Hong Kong residents in Iran, Israel and Jordan. In this connection, the ImmD has maintained close contact with the OCMFA and relevant Chinese embassies to render all practical assistance to the persons concerned according to their wishes. Eventually, 20 Hong Kong residents left the area concerned safely, while the remaining Hong Kong resident reported as safe and required no further assistance. 

(2) Publicity on consular protection and outbound travel safety

     In 2025, the ImmD and the OCMFA continued to co-organise a series of activities to widely publicise information on consular protection and outbound travel safety. These included organising roving exhibitions at the Immigration Headquarters and across the territory, as well as setting up booths at travel expos, among others. To deepen the understanding of the younger generation on consular protection and strengthen their sense of belonging to the country, the ImmD produced its first-ever illustrated book for children on consular protection and outbound travel safety. The book launch was held in June 2025. Physical copies of the book have been distributed to over 1 500 primary schools and kindergartens across the territory, and are also available for loan at public libraries in various districts. The electronic version of the book has also been uploaded to the websites of the Education Bureau and the ImmD, enabling students to learn about consular protection and outbound travel safety in a simple and easy-to-understand manner.

(D) Arrangements for personal document replacement and extension of stay for residents affected by the Tai Po fire  

     To fully support the residents affected by the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the ImmD promptly activated special arrangements on November 27, 2025, the day immediately following the incident. Affected residents could visit Immigration offices during office hours without a prior appointment to apply for replacement of personal documents, such as Hong Kong identity cards, HKSAR passports, certified copies of birth certificates or marriage certificates. All fees in relation to the replacement of personal documents and application for extension of stay were waived. To provide further facilitation to the affected residents, the ImmD deployed officers to various temporary shelters in Tai Po for three consecutive days to conduct pre-registrations, and additionally set up a special service session at the Immigration Headquarters outside office hours for seven days to specifically process the relevant applications. The ImmD not only provided dedicated transport during the special service session to transfer the affected residents to and from Tseung Kwan O for replacement of personal documents, but also expedited processing to prepare the relevant personal documents within 48 hours, delivering them back to the temporary shelters for collection. Between November 27, 2025, and the end of December 2025, the ImmD processed about 4 350 applications for replacement of relevant personal documents in total, involving over 2 600 affected residents.
 
Enforce law stringently and secure social stability

(A) Multipronged approach to combat illegal employment
 
     The ImmD has been sparing no effort in combating illegal employment to safeguard job opportunities for the local workforce. The Security Bureau established the Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment (Task Force) in September 2025 to step up efforts in combating illegal employment. As a member of the Task Force, the ImmD has fully supported its work in enhancing interdepartmental collaboration on various fronts by formulating overall response strategies against illegal employment, strengthening intelligence collection and intelligence exchanges with the Mainland, enforcing the laws rigorously, leveraging technology, and co-ordinating relevant publicity and education efforts, with a view to combating illegal employment through a multipronged approach.
 
(1) Rigorous law enforcement
 
     In 2025, the ImmD conducted a total of 19 980 operations against illegal employment activities, representing an increase of about 12 per cent when compared with that of 2024. During these operations, the ImmD arrested 3 708 illegal workers and 569 local employers altogether. In particular, a total of 396 non-ethnic Chinese illegal workers and 164 locals who employed them were arrested during the enforcement operations against non-ethnic Chinese illegal workers. During the year, the majority of the convicted illegal workers were sentenced to imprisonment with terms ranging from six days to 22 months and two weeks, whereas most of the convicted employers were sentenced to imprisonment or fines with terms ranging from six weeks to six months and fines ranging from $5,000 to $60,000. In response to lawbreakers who, through online platforms, offer cross-boundary "point-to-point" services and arrange for illegal workers to work in Hong Kong in a relatively discreet manner, the ImmD has conducted constant targeted cyber patrols and taken intelligence-led enforcement actions such as decoy operations. If Mainland online platforms are involved, the ImmD will exchange intelligence with the Mainland authorities and urge them to arrange with the relevant platforms for taking appropriate follow-up actions, such as removing the posts involved. In 2025, the ImmD conducted 28 decoy operations, leading to the arrest of a total of 33 persons, including 30 illegal workers and three persons who aided and abetted others to take up illegal employment. These illegal workers were suspected of coming to Hong Kong to provide photography, make-up, tour guide and cross-boundary purchase services.
 
(2) Stepping up publicity and education
 
     The ImmD has been conducting publicity and education through various channels, including holding press conferences, distributing promotional leaflets, and arranging seminars for different organisations and consulates in order to raise public awareness of the criminal liability for employing illegal workers. In November 2025, the ImmD held a themed seminar for over 180 newly arrived Indonesian domestic helpers at the invitation of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong, explaining the relevant provisions of the Immigration Ordinance and reminding foreign domestic helpers not to take up any illegal employment. The ImmD has also actively disseminated the latest enforcement results of anti-illegal worker operations through its official social media accounts.
 
(3) Strengthening intelligence collection
 
     Effective intelligence collection and enhanced intelligence analysis are crucial in combating illegal employment. The ImmD has established multiple reporting channels, including a telephone hotline, and an email and online reporting platform for members of the public to report related offences. In September 2025, the ImmD launched the Dedicated Hotline for Reporting Illegal Workers (3861 5000), and provided a new reporting function on WeChat and the "iAM Smart" mobile application to encourage the public to actively report illegal employment related crimes and work together to combat unlawful acts.
 
(B) Detection of bogus marriages
 
     The ImmD has set up a special task force to carry out enforcement actions against non-Hong Kong residents obtaining residency by means of contracting bogus marriages with Hong Kong residents. In 2025, a total of 39 persons were convicted of bogus marriage-related offences and sentenced to imprisonment ranging from nine to 22 months. In November 2025, the ImmD mounted a cross-boundary joint operation codenamed "Flashspear 2025" with the immigration authorities of Guangdong Province, neutralising a cross-boundary bogus marriage syndicate. The mastermind and three core members of the syndicate, as well as eight Mainlanders suspected to have contracted bogus marriages, were arrested in Hong Kong and Guangdong. The syndicate was found to have arranged more than 60 bogus marriages between 2023 and 2024, involving transactions amounting to over $7.5 million.
 
(C) Strengthening counter-terrorism preparedness, combating illegal transnational migration and document fraud
 
     The ImmD Officers intercepted suspicious persons at immigration control points in the light of terrorist threat assessments and actual circumstances, and kept visitors in suspected association with terrorist activities under surveillance to prevent such persons from attempting to enter Hong Kong. In 2025, the ImmD conducted a total of 13 853 related inspection operations at various immigration control points with 22 207 passengers intercepted for enquiries. To enhance its preparedness and response capabilities for emergencies and terrorist attacks, the ImmD participated in a large-scale interdepartmental counter-terrorism exercise codenamed "BRAVELIGHT" at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in August 2025. The exercise aimed to test and enhance the co-ordination and response capabilities of various departments in dealing with terrorism-related as well as riot-related intelligence and responses to different forms of terrorist attacks. Moreover, the ImmD has been working with different law enforcement agencies to combat illegal transnational migration, with the focus on investigations into document fraud, in order to prevent anyone from entering Hong Kong or travelling to other countries or territories via Hong Kong with forged travel documents. In 2025, the ImmD's Anti-Illegal Migration Agency conducted a total of 30 567 operations against forgery activities, including joint operations with overseas and local law enforcement agencies against illegal transnational migration. A total of 21 064 passengers were intercepted for enquiries.
 
(D) Handling non-refoulement claims
 
(1) Combating the illegal entry of non-ethnic Chinese 
 
      The ImmD has commenced dedicated operations with the Mainland and local law enforcement agencies since 2016 in order to take sustained enforcement action against illegal immigration activities of non-ethnic Chinese. The number of interceptions plummeted by 91 per cent from the peak of 364 in October 2023 to a monthly average of 32 in 2025. The ImmD will continue to step up intelligence exchanges with enforcement agencies on the Mainland and in Macao to further combat illegal immigration precisely.
 
(2) Screening with high efficiency
 
     The ImmD continued to speed up the screening of non-refoulement claims with flexible staff deployments and optimised workflows. In 2025, the ImmD determined over 2 500 non-refoulement claims. As at the end of last year, there were about 650 claims pending screening by the ImmD. Under the unified screening mechanism, over 95 per cent of the claimants rejected by the ImmD lodged appeals against the decisions. As at the end of 2025, there were about 300 claimants who had lodged appeals pending decision by the Torture Claims Appeal Board/Non-refoulement Claims Petition Office.
 
(3) Better management of detainees
 
     The ImmD continued to strengthen the management of detainees, including those pending removal and non-refoulement claimants. In 2025, the number of new detainees to the Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre (CIC) was 6 572, representing a rise of about 10 per cent from 5 952 in 2024. The CIC has commenced work on a CCTV surveillance system enhancement, with the introduction of a Video Analytic Monitoring System that leverages AI to perform real-time analysis of CCTV footage. In addition to the CIC, the HKSAR Government included the Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution and the Nei Kwu Correctional Institution (NKCI) as places of detention of the ImmD in 2021 and 2023 respectively, thereby increasing the number of detention places for detaining non-refoulement claimants to three. Following the completion of the NKCI's in-situ expansion in early April 2025, the overall detention capacity was increased to 940. The ImmD will remain committed to making good use of the detention facilities to detain claimants who pose higher risks to the security of the community.
 
(4) Enhancing efficiency of removing unsubstantiated claimants
 
     The ImmD has been committed to promptly removing unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong to safeguard the public interest. In 2025, the ImmD removed 2 613 unsubstantiated claimants from Hong Kong, representing a rise of 18 per cent when compared with that in 2024. To enhance removal efforts, the ImmD carried out an in-flight escort repatriation operation codenamed "Expel" on November 6, 2025. For the first time, the ImmD arranged a special chartered flight from Hong Kong to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport for unsubstantiated claimants, with an onward transfer to Pakistan aboard a commercial flight. This resulted in the successful forced removal of six Pakistani unsubstantiated claimants to their home country in a single operation. The ImmD will continue to explore different feasible solutions to expedite the repatriation of unsubstantiated claimants. Meanwhile, it will also co-ordinate with relevant authorities to optimise repatriation routes while actively maintaining close liaison with governments, airline companies and other government departments of major source countries of the claimants, with a view to removing unsubstantiated claimants from Hong Kong as soon as practicable through all appropriate measures.
         
Strengthen the corps and promote patriotism  

(A) Staff training and continuous development 

(1) Recruitment of service members 

     The ImmD launched a new round of open recruitment and in-service appointments of Immigration Officers in June and July 2025 respectively, while the open recruitment of Immigration Assistants continued to be conducted year round. During the recruitment exercises in 2025, the department recruited about 90 Immigration Officers and 150 Immigration Assistants.

(2) National studies

      In order to reinforce the concept of national security among newly recruited Immigration Officers, deepen their understanding of the history and development of the motherland as well as enhance their knowledge of the country's immigration regime, with the staunch support of the Ministry of Public Security and the China People's Police University, the ImmD has arranged all Immigration Officer trainees to participate in the National Affairs and Immigration Control Training Course at the China People's Police University (Guangzhou). Since June 2025, such training arrangements have been made to cover all Immigration Assistant trainees. Moreover, a total of 257 members of the Immigration Service were arranged to attend training courses in various Mainland institutes in 2025.
 
(3) Oil painting exhibition commemorating 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance

     In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the ImmD hosted an oil painting exhibition at the public lobby of its headquarters from August to September 2025. The exhibition, showcasing a number of oil paintings depicting the nation's gateways and the control points of the HKSAR, drew many public visitors, as well as various youth organisations and charitable groups. It effectively promoted patriotic sentiments and strengthened a sense of national identity and belonging. The ImmD will continue to actively foster public awareness of national security and deepen its staff members' understanding of the history and development of the motherland.

(B) Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps
 
      The Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps (IDYL) provides systematic and regular disciplinary and leadership training with the aim of nurturing its members to become pillars of society who love the country and Hong Kong. As the end of 2025, a total of over 1 300 students participated in the IDYL. In May 2025, the IDYL held the Grand Parade and Promotion Ceremony, where members themselves took on roles such as Parade Commander, members of the Flag Party and Master of Ceremony for the first time. The Guard of Honour also performed a silent foot drill together with the parade. During the year, the IDYL organised a total of five exchange programmes to the Mainland with different themes, including trips to Hainan, Heilongjiang, Sichuan, Chaoshan in Guangdong and the Greater Bay Area. These exchange programmes facilitated members' exchanges with Mainland youths, thereby deepening their understanding of the country's development.
  
Vision for 2026
 
Utilise technologies to enhance service standards

(A) Enhancing clearance efficiency

(1) Establishment of the first "contactless clearance" pilot checkpoint
 
     The ImmD will establish Hong Kong's first "contactless clearance" pilot checkpoint at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port, which enables people's identity verification through facial recognition technology, thereby achieving unimpeded immigration clearance. The "contactless clearance" pilot scheme is anticipated for launch in the second quarter of 2026, with the initial phase proposed to be open for enrolment by eligible Hong Kong residents who frequently use the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port. Details will be announced in due course.
 
(2) Enhancement of immigration clearance service at control points
 
     To align with the trend towards self-service clearance and meet long-term service demands, the ImmD will introduce a series of enhancement measures on the e-Channel service at HKIA. Starting from the first quarter of 2026, a total of 26 new additional e-Channels will be installed gradually at the arrival hall, and the existing 26 e-Channels will be replaced progressively. At the same time, the eligibility criteria for frequent visitors to enrol for the e-Channel service will be relaxed, from having visited Hong Kong via HKIA for no fewer than three times in the past 12 months at present, to no fewer than two times in the past 24 months. The ImmD and the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) will extend the applicable age of the Flight Token e-Channel service to 7 years old or above from the second quarter of 2026 onwards to benefit more departing eligible Hong Kong residents and visitors. Furthermore, the first phase of the enhancement works at Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point was completed in September 2025, increasing the number of e-Channels to 18 both at the arrival and departure halls. The ImmD is planning for the next phase of alteration works to further increase the number of e-Channels, with a view to enhancing the clearance capacity of the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point.
 
(3) Enhancement of immigration clearance arrangements for pleasure vessels
 
     One of the convenient measures promoted by the HKSAR government to develop the yacht economy is the enhancement of the electronic business system of the Marine Department (MD), which allows visiting yachts to submit arrival information in advance through a one-stop service. The ImmD is working with the MD on the proposal to conduct preliminary vetting of the information of the crew and passengers of visiting yachts by using the system, thereby shortening the time for immigration clearance. Meanwhile, the ImmD is actively reviewing the immigration arrangements for crew and passengers of pleasure vessels and will carry out internal system upgrades to optimise the workflow.
 
(B) Upgrading the infrastructure of boundary control points
 
(1) Redevelopment of Huanggang Port

     To tie in with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development blueprint and facilitate smooth and efficient people and cargo flows within the area, the HKSAR Government has been forging ahead with the Huanggang Port redevelopment project. The new Huanggang Port will adopt the co-location arrangementand implement the new clearance mode of "collaborative inspection and joint clearance", making it the first boundary control point between Guangdong Province and the HKSAR adopting such a clearance mode. It will be equipped with 134 "collaborative inspection" automated channels, 68 traditional manual counters, and 26 clearance kiosks for private cars and cross-boundary coaches. Hong Kong and Shenzhen are dedicating efforts to take forward matters such as construction works of the new Huanggang Port building and specific immigration clearance arrangements. The works departments of both sides will also undertake interior works and install necessary facilities through a concurrent approach. The ImmD, together with other relevant bureaux and departments, will continue to maintain close liaison with the relevant Mainland authorities to proactively implement all relevant preparatory work.
 
(2) Redevelopment of Sha Tau Kok Control Point
 
     To enhance clearance efficiency, the HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government have reached a consensus in 2024 on adopting a cross-river construction approach in the redevelopment of the Sha Tau Kok (STK) Control Point. Accordingly, the two sides will concurrently construct the passenger clearance building straddling the STK River and will take the centre line of the river as the boundary line to set up their respective passenger clearance channels immediately adjacent to each other. The redeveloped STK Control Point will become a passenger clearance-only control point, with the cargo clearance function cancelled, in order to facilitate the implementation of the "East in East out, West in West out" planning strategy for cross-boundary goods traffic. It will also implement the "collaborative inspection and joint clearance" mode to enhance passenger clearance experience and efficiency. The HKSAR Government completed in December 2025 the engineering feasibility study for the STK Control Point redevelopment project, and published in the gazette the relevant land resumption proposal with a view to initiating the land resumption process. The ImmD will continue to collaborate with relevant bureaux and departments to actively take forward the redevelopment project.
 
(3) Immigration facilitation measures for the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone
 
     To dovetail with the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, the "Western Cross-River Link Bridge Project" connecting the two parks in Hong Kong and Shenzhen commenced in December 2025, effectively facilitating the frequent day-to-day cross-boundary flow of I&T personnel. Regarding immigration clearance, to enable the cross-boundary movement of I&T personnel, the ImmD will actively explore the adoption of innovative and convenient clearance modes. The target is to enable pre-verified individuals to enjoy a contactless clearance experience through the use of facial recognition technology.
 
(4) Airport Terminal 2
 
     With the full commissioning of the Three-Runway System (3RS) of HKIA in 2024, the airport capacity has been substantially enhanced. Terminal 2 under the 3RS project will be opened in phases based on passenger traffic demand, with its departure facilities set to commence operation in 2026. The ImmD will maintain close communication with the AAHK and other relevant departments to ensure the smooth running of clearance facilities.
 
(C) Leading with technology to enhance services 

(1) Implementing the Fourth Information Systems Strategy

      The ImmD commissioned a consultant in August 2024 to conduct a study of the Fourth Information Systems Strategy, with a view to formulating a blueprint for the department's long-term information technology development. It is recommended that the ImmD should leverage innovative technologies and AI more effectively, and replace the existing information systems in a timely manner to further enhance work efficiency and cost-effectiveness while meeting future development needs. In view of the strategic recommendations, the ImmD has initiated a feasibility study on the new generation of immigration control systems, exploring ways to introduce an innovative self-service clearance mode and further extend the e-Channel service to improve clearance efficiency and strengthen immigration control. Furthermore, the ImmD will harness AI technology to analyse and monitor data such as passenger and vehicular flows. This will facilitate flexible manpower deployment and enhance resource utilisation, thereby ensuring smooth operation at the control points.
 
(2) Expanding the service scope of the personal documentation kiosks
 
     Personal Documentation Submission Kiosks and Personal Documentation Collection Kiosks are provided at the Immigration Headquarters for eligible persons to apply for identity card replacements in a self-service manner and submit their HKSAR passport applications in one go, without having to make any appointments. The services have gained popularity among the public, earning the ImmD's Self-application Services Team recognition in The Ombudsman's Awards 2025 for Teams of Public Organisations - a newly introduced award that recognises excellence in enhancing the quality of public services. The ImmD plans to expand the service scope of the personal documentation kiosks in phases starting from the first half of 2026 by processing applications for replacement of identity cards and HKSAR passports due to loss, adjusting the eligible age for use and introducing services such as replacement and collection of Documents of Identity for Visa Purposes, among others, so that more Hong Kong residents may enjoy the convenience brought by the personal documentation kiosks. Relevant details will be announced in due course.
 
(3) Stepping up efforts to combat immigration-related technology and cybercrimes 

     To effectively combat emerging immigration-related technology and cybercrimes, and enhance enforcement efficiency, the ImmD is continuously improving its digital forensics capabilities, including actively recruiting and training talent, procuring sophisticated and specialised equipment, and establishing its first digital forensics laboratory. Meanwhile, the ImmD is also developing a new analytics system to consolidate and analyse data and information from various online platforms for conducting automated cyber patrols across multiple platforms. These help strengthen the ImmD's capacity in cybercrime investigations and digital evidence collection on all fronts.
 
(D) Enhancing arrangements for extension of stay applications in respect of various talent admission schemes
 
     With effect from March 1, 2026, persons permitted to work or reside in Hong Kong under the GEP, ASMTP, TechTAS, Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates, QMAS, and Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents, as well as their dependants, may submit early applications for an extension of stay within three months prior to the expiry of their limit of stay. The arrangement is applicable to the Top Talent Pass Scheme since November 1, 2024. The new arrangement allows applicants under various talent admission schemes more time to prepare for and submit their extension of stay applications, thereby further facilitating their stay in Hong Kong for development.

Ends/Friday, February 13, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:50

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