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Apply for travel documents early to beat Chinese New Year rush

27 December 2003

Anyone intending to travel abroad during the Chinese New Year holiday is reminded to apply for travel documents as early as possible.

"The number of people travelling abroad may greatly increase during this time of the year. In order to avoid the last-minute rush, members of the public are advised to apply for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passports well in advance of their trips," a spokesman for the Immigration Department said.

Under the present arrangement, applications for HKSAR passports can be submitted to the Immigration Department by post or placed in the drop-in boxes provided at the Immigration headquarters and all Immigration branch offices.

The normal processing time for the HKSAR passport is 15 working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and General Holidays).

Up to now, 126 countries and territories have granted visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders.

Application forms and information leaflets on application procedures and documents required are obtainable from the Immigration headquarters and all Immigration branch offices. For enquiries, please contact the Immigration Department at telephone number 2824 6111, by fax to 2877 7711 or through the Internet http://www.immd.gov.hk/

"Other than applications for Hong Kong travel documents, applications for identity cards and other Registration of Persons services may also be in high demand during this time of the year. To avoid congestion, applicants are also requested to submit their applications well before school or public holidays. Furthermore, applicants who wish to apply for identity cards are encouraged to make use of the Registration for Identity Cards 24-hour Automated Telephone Appointment Booking System at Tel: 2598 0888 or via the Internet: http://www.esd.gov.hk," added the spokesman.

The spokesman also reminded the public that the department issues machine-readable Re-entry Permits (MR REP) which enable holders to enjoy more efficient immigration clearance, and therefore help to relieve congestion at control points.

The department appeals to holders of non machine-readable multiple re-entry permits issued before December 17, 2001 to apply for add-on machine-readable labels that may be affixed to their permits. The service is free of charge. Application forms are available at the Information Office at the Immigration headquarters, the six Immigration Branch Offices, District Offices and main Post Offices; the forms may also be downloaded from the homepage of the Immigration Department at http://www.immd.gov.hk/