Hong Kong residents are to be offered new smart ID cards for access to e-government services as well as online shopping, entertainment and e-banking facilities. First to offer the smart cards on 23 June 2003 was Hong Kong's Immigration Department.
It is issuing cards to new arrivals, people in need of a replacement card, children over the age of 11 and 18 year olds.
Hong Kong is extending the cards to the rest of the population on 18 August 2003, setting up "Smart ID Card Centres" intended to deal with expected demand from 6.9m people holding the existing paper based documentation.
The Hong Kong authorities intend to replace the existing ID cards over a period of four years. From August to November 2003 members of the Immigration Department will receive cards, followed by members of Hong Kong's executive, and from then on people will be offered cards in stages according to their birth dates.
A spokesperson for the Immigration Department said that Hong Kong residents who are living abroad need not panic:
"Hong Kong residents who are presently overseas need not rush back to Hong Kong solely for replacement of their ID cards. They can do so within 30 days after their return to Hong Kong if they have missed their turn."
Quelle: Kablenet
