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Invalidation of old identity cards

* All the old identity cards issued before 23 June 2003 will be declared invalid by batches in accordance with the "first apply, first invalidated" principle through the issue of Registration of Persons (Invalidation of Identity Cards) Order.
* Pursuant to section 7C of the Registration of Persons Ordinance, Cap. 177, Laws of Hong Kong, the Secretary for Security has declared all old identity cards bearing the following year of birth to be invalid with effect from the dates shown below:

Year of birth

Invalid with effect from

1958 / 1959
1960 / 1961 / 1962 / 1963 / 1964 /
1965 / 1966 / 1967 / 1968 / 1969

16/10/2006

1943 / 1944 / 1945 / 1946 / 1947 /
1948 / 1949 /
1950 / 1951 / 1952 / 1953 / 1954 /
1955 / 1956 / 1957

15/1/2007

1970 / 1971 / 1972 / 1973 / 1974 / 1975 /
1976 / 1977 / 1978 / 1979

17/9/2007

Before 1942
1942 / 1980 / 1981 / 1982 / 1983 / 1984 /
1985 / 1986 / 1987 / 1988 / 1989 / 1990 /
1991 / 1992 / 1993 / 1994 / 1995 / 1996 /
1997 / 1998 / 1999 / 2000 / 2001 / 2002 /
2003

 30/11/2008

*

With effect from 30 November 2008, all the old identity cards issued before 23 June 2003 will become invalid.

*

The invalidation of old identity cards will not affect the holder's right of abode in Hong Kong unless the holder has lost his permanent resident status under the Immigration Ordinance, Cap. 115, Laws of Hong Kong.

* Failure to apply for a new identity card within the specified call-up periods without reasonable excuse is an offence. Offenders may be prosecuted and are liable to a fine of $5,000.
* For holders of old identity cards who were absent from Hong Kong during the specified call-up periods and have not replaced their identity cards under the Hong Kong Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise, they should apply at any of the Registration of Persons Offices within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong.
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