January
The enhanced arrangement for processing loss of entry identification documents for returning Hong Kong and Macao residents was implemented on 11 January 2016. After the implementation, the procedures to report loss of travel documents and to present for subsequent departure have been further streamlined and the processing time has also been shortened.
With effect from 27 January 2016, HKSAR passport holders do not need a visa for visiting Saint-Barthelemy and Saint-Martin (French Overseas Territories) for a stay of up to 90 days over a period of 180 days.
The Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal resumed service on 28 January 2016 to provide cross-boundary passenger ferry services between Hong Kong and Macao or the Mainland. To tie in with the arrangement, the Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal Control Point resumed operation on the same day to handle immigration clearance for passengers.
February
In February and May 2016, two Mainland pregnant women and one Mainland pregnant woman respectively admitted to have contracted bogus marriages with Hong Kong residents in order to obtain Confirmation Certificates on Delivery Booking for delivery in Hong Kong. A total of seven suspects were arrested. They were all charged with conspiracy to defraud, and six of them were further charged with conspiracy to obtain services by deception. They were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 10 to 14 months.
March
The Department held a Consular Cocktail Reception at the Immigration Officers Mess on 15 March 2016 to strengthen relations with consular officials.
The Airport Division was voted the winner of the Skytrax Award for Best Airport Immigration Service for the second consecutive year in the World Airport Survey commissioned by Skytrax, a United Kingdom-based specialist research agent of the air transport industry.
A joint operation codenamed 'High Crest' was conducted by the Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Border Control Department of Guangdong, neutralising a cross-boundary human smuggling syndicate which specialised in arranging for non-ethnic Chinese nationals to seek illegal entry into Hong Kong. During the operation, a total of 114 suspects, including 24 core syndicate members, were arrested in Guangdong Province and Hong Kong.
April
With effect from 6 April 2016, HKSAR passport holders will be granted a 45-day visit visa upon arrival in Comoros. In addition, HKSAR passport holders will be granted a visit visa upon arrival at Nouakchott International Airport or the land border crossing checkpoint in Nouadhibou in Mauritania. The duration of stay will be determined by the competent authorities upon arrival.
The Department has set up an in-town e-Channel Enrolment Office at the Immigration Tower since 11 April 2016 to provide further convenience for eligible visitors to enrol for e-Channel service during their stay in Hong Kong.
May
A delegation comprising officers from the Department and the Hong Kong Police Force departed on 17 May 2016 for a duty visit to Vietnam. The visit aimed to reflect to the Vietnamese authorities Hong Kong's stringent enforcement and legislative provisions against illegal employment and human trafficking, and introduce the implementation of the Unified Screening Mechanism. The delegation also explored co-operation with the Vietnamese authorities in intelligence gathering and liaison on enforcement.
The Immigration (Unauthorised Entrants) (Amendment) Order 2016 (the Amendment Order) came into effect on 20 May 2016. To achieve a stronger deterrent effect, the Amendment Order expanded the definition of 'unauthorised entrants' under the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115, Laws of Hong Kong) to cover the vast majority of non-ethnic Chinese illegal immigrants (NECIIs) by including the eight major source countries of NECIIs in addition to Vietnam, i.e. Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Afghanistan and Nigeria, so as to increase the penalties against smuggling of illegal immigrants from these countries.
June
In the 2016 Hong Kong International Airport Customer Service Excellence Programme organised by the Airport Authority Hong Kong, the Airport Division was awarded the Best Customer Service Enhancement Award and 29 frontline staff members of the Airport Control Point were also awarded a Certificate of Appreciation in the Corporate Excellence Award.
With effect from 20 June 2016, HKSAR electronic passport holders can use the automated immigration clearance service in Australia free of charge without pre-enrolment, while Australian passport holders can enrol for the e-Channel service in Hong Kong free of charge.
The Identity Card Branch (ID Branch) and the Removal Assessment and Litigation Branch (RAL Branch) were established on 20 June 2016. The ID Branch is responsible for developing the Next Generation Smart Identity Card System and launching the territory-wide identity card replacement exercise. The RAL Branch is responsible for screening non-refoulement claims as well as handling appeal/petition and litigation cases relating to non-refoulement claims and enforcement. It also provides support for the comprehensive review of the strategy of handling non-refoulement claims.
A joint operation codenamed 'Greatplan' was mounted by the Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Border Control Department of Guangdong and a cross-boundary human smuggling syndicate specialised in arranging for Vietnamese nationals to seek illegal entry into Hong Kong was neutralised, leading to the apprehension of a total of 51 suspects, including 17 core syndicate members, in the Mainland and Hong Kong.
July
From 13 to 30 July 2016, the Department and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR co-organised a photo exhibition on consular protection involving Hong Kong at the Immigration Tower. The exhibition aimed to enhance public understanding of consular protection involving Hong Kong and the work of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit, so as to promote public awareness of outbound travel safety.
To celebrate the Department's 55th anniversary, an open day was held at the Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development on 31 July 2016. Moreover, a photo exhibition on the Department's history and development was held at the Immigration Tower between August and September 2016.
August
Since 22 August 2016, Hong Kong and Korea have streamlined the enrolment procedures for the mutual use of automated clearance services. HKSAR electronic passport holders are able to enrol for the service directly in Korea without pre-enrolment. Reciprocally, Korean passport holders are also able to enrol for the e-Channel service directly in Hong Kong without pre-enrolment.
To provide further convenience for the public, with effect from 26 August 2016, members of the public may submit applications for Certificate of Absence of Marriage Record through the Internet.
Two joint operations codenamed 'Silvershield' and 'Powerbow' were mounted by the Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Border Control Department of Guangdong. Two cross-boundary human smuggling syndicates active in the Mainland and Hong Kong and specialised in arranging for Vietnamese and South Asian nationals to seek illegal entry into Hong Kong were neutralised. During the operations, a total of 99 suspects, including 46 core syndicate members, were arrested.
A delegation comprising officers of the Department departed on 28 August 2016 for a duty visit to Pakistan and Bangladesh. The visits aimed to introduce to the relevant authorities Hong Kong's stringent legislative provisions against illegal employment and human trafficking, and the objectives of the Unified Screening Mechanism. The delegation also explored co-operation with the relevant authorities of Pakistan and Bangladesh in intelligence gathering and liaison on enforcement.
September
The Department mounted a series of territory-wide enforcement operations codenamed 'Champion', 'Twilight' and 'Windsand' to combat illegal employment activities in September 2016. The Department also conducted similar enforcement operations in March, April and November 2016. During the operations, a total of 334 suspects, including 250 illegal workers and 57 local employers on suspicion of employing illegal workers, were apprehended.
October
The Immigration Division of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai of the HKSAR Government came into operation on 25 October 2016. Its main function is to provide assistance to Hong Kong residents in distress in the municipality of Shanghai as well as Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui and Shandong Provinces.
With effect from 28 October 2016, HKSAR passport holders will be granted a visit visa upon arrival in Madagascar for a stay not exceeding 90 days.
November
To provide further convenience, Hong Kong residents in the Mainland may submit their HKSAR passport replacement applications and subsequently collect their new passports through the Immigration Divisions of the Beijing Office and the three Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangdong with effect from 7 November 2016.
December
A passing-out parade was held on 9 December 2016. Together with the trainees of the passing-out parade held on 1 April 2016, a total of 78 Immigration Officers and 205 Immigration Assistants completed induction training and became the young force of the Department in 2016.
Since 12 December 2016, the mutual use of automated immigration clearance service with the Macao SAR has been extended to Hong Kong non-permanent residents holding a 'HKSAR Document of Identity for Visa Purposes' and Macao non-permanent residents holding a 'Visit Permit for Residents of Macao to HKSAR'. Eligible persons of the two places may use the automated immigration clearance service of the other party after enrolment.
The Department announced in December 2016 that the Pre-arrival Registration (PAR) for Indian Nationals would be implemented with effect from 23 January 2017. Indian nationals must apply for and successfully complete PAR online before they can visit Hong Kong visa-free unless they belong to one of the exempted categories.