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Persons born in 1966 or 1967 should apply for smart identity cards from November 17, 2003 to January 10, 2004

16 November 2003

Holders of existing identity (ID) cards who were born in 1966 or 1967 are required to apply for the smart ID cards from November 17, 2003 to January 10, 2004 under the Hong Kong Smart ID Card Replacement Exercise.

Eligible applicants can book an appointment by telephone at 1838 333, via the ESDlife website: www.esd.gov.hk, or at any ESD kiosks.

Applicants should submit their applications in person at the Smart ID Card Centres. If their ID cards bear the 'A' or '***' residential symbol, or their ID cards were issued on or after 1 January 1999 and bear the 'R' residential symbol, they only need to bring along their existing ID cards for the applications. Eligible applicants not belonging to the above categories should bring along their travel documents, in addition to their existing ID cards, showing their current residential status in Hong Kong.

"The Replacement Exercise covers all residents in Hong Kong, whether they are permanent residents or temporary residents taking up employment, investment, residence or study in Hong Kong. Employers of foreign domestic helpers are encouraged to release their helpers to apply for the new ID cards," a spokesman for the Immigration Department said.

The spokesman stressed that failure to apply for a new ID card within the specified period would constitute an offence. Offenders may be prosecuted and liable to a fine of $5,000. However, for persons who are absent from Hong Kong within the specified application period, they can apply for the new ID cards within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong.

The spokesman also pointed out that the application period for persons born in 1968 or 1969 had already ended on 15 November 2003. If people of the above age groups had not yet applied for the new ID cards, they should approach any one of the Smart ID Card Centres for application immediately as their old ID cards would later be declared invalid.

For further information about the replacement exercise, please visit www.smartid.gov.hk or telephone the Immigration Department hotline at 2824 6111.