Organisation Chart of the Management and Support Branch
As at the end of 2024, 24 secondary schools had joined the IDYL, with the total membership exceeding 950, marking an increase of over 25% compared to the previous year.
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Organisation Chart of the Departmental Management Division
Under the charge of an Assistant Director, the Management and Support Branch comprises the Service Management Division, the Quality Assurance Division and the Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development (ISITD), each headed by a Principal Immigration Officer.
The Service Management Division deals with matters relating to the welfare, conduct and discipline of about 7,000 Immigration Service members as well as public relations matters of the department. The Quality Assurance Division is dedicated to conducting management audits, carrying out reviews in response to complaints from the public and planning the construction of the new Immigration Headquarters. The ISITD is responsible for the recruitment, training, deployment and career development of service members.
The Departmental Management Division is put under the charge of a Principal Executive Officer who is directly responsible to the Deputy Director for matters on personnel management, establishment control, finance, supplies and general administration of the department.
The department organised numerous recruitment and promotional activities for Hong Kong students in the mainland, with the aim of attracting more young people with an affection for our country and Hong Kong, global perspectives and social responsibility to join the department.
To meet the manpower demand for business development, the department launched a new round of open recruitment and in-service appointment of Immigration Officers in May 2024, while the open recruitment of Immigration Assistants continued to be conducted all year round. During the recruitment exercises in 2024, the department recruited about 100 Immigration Officers and 210 Immigration Assistants.
To attract more people of high calibre to join the service, the department stepped up the promotion of its recruitment exercises through different means, such as organising career talks and producing short videos and posters of job descriptions. In January 2024, the department participated in the Education & Careers Expo held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to introduce its recruitment exercises to the public and enhance its professional image. The department also actively organised career talks for various local and Mainland tertiary institutions, institutes of vocational education, schools of continuing education and youth organisations, with a view to attracting young people of high calibre to join the service.
With an increasing number of Hong Kong students choosing to pursue further studies in the Mainland, the department has strengthened its promotional and recruitment efforts for Hong Kong students there. In 2024, the Immigration Divisions of the 5 Mainland Offices of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government visited various Mainland tertiary institutions and collaborated with a number of organisations targeting Hong Kong students in the Mainland to conduct around 32 recruitment talks for promoting the department's mission and job opportunities to over 2,000 Hong Kong students studying in the Mainland. The department also organised visits to multiple tertiary institutions in the Mainland, including Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University and Jinan University, etc. in May 2024. A number of recruitment and promotional activities were organised to attract Hong Kong students studying in the Mainland to return to Hong Kong and join the department after graduation.
To promote the recruitment exercises of Immigration Officers and Immigration Assistants, the department organised Recruitment Experience Days on 18 and 19 May 2024. The events aimed to introduce the various duties of the department, job vacancies, career prospects, and the selection process to members of the public who are interested in joining the department. Participants not only had the opportunity to try out the physical fitness tests and preliminary interviews in person, but also received instant advice from service members for their early preparation for the selection. The Experience Days were well-received, attracting approximately 2,000 participants.
To strengthen the concept of national security among Immigration Officer Trainees and deepen their understanding of the national immigration and frontier inspection system, the department with the support of the Ministry of Public Security and the China People's Police University, arranged for 98 Immigration Officer Trainees to attend the National Affairs and Immigration Control Training Course for Immigration Officer Trainees held at the China People's Police University (Guangzhou) in 2024.
It is our strong belief that a professional and effective workforce relies on the dedication of every staff member to provide excellent service by playing to their strengths. The Career Development Sub-division of the Management and Support Branch is tasked with making strategic staff posting, managing staff performance and drawing up training plans. It strives to formulate tailor-made career development plans for service members, and also reviews the overall staff deployment plan to meet the department's operational needs.
The ISITD is responsible for identifying the training needs of service members, formulating the annual training and staff career development plan, conducting in-service training and evaluating the effectiveness of relevant programmes. It strives to provide training courses and learning resources for service members to ensure that they are all equipped with the necessary skills to meet different challenges. It also actively promotes the culture of lifelong learning in the department.
The ISITD is a 13-storey purpose-built complex that houses a variety of training and residential facilities. Generic facilities include a drill ground, classrooms, a lecture theatre, an indoor swimming pool, a Learning Resource Centre, an Information Resource Centre, a Tactical Training Ground, a Physical Fitness Centre and a gymnasium with elevated running tracks. Specialised training facilities including an Immigration Control System (ICONS) Training Centre, an Automated Immigration Clearance Training Centre, a Mock Immigration Clearance Hall, an Operations Command Centre (Mock Duty Office), a Simulated Training Venue (Investigation Skills), video recording interview rooms, a mock court, a Simulated Scenarios Tactical Training Centre, Simulated Detention Cells of the Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre (CIC), a firearms training zone, a Pepper Spray Training Zone, as well as a Scenario Training Flight Cabin are set up to cater for job-related training in a mock environment. The ISITD also provides residential facilities for trainees to help cultivate a sense of discipline and to boost an esprit de corps. In addition, the Training Gallery at the ISITD provides a detailed account of the work and historical development of the department.
The ISITD serves to equip service members with professional knowledge and skills for serving the community. To keep pace with the department's latest development, the ISITD keeps enhancing its existing induction and in-service training, and actively collaborates with Mainland and overseas counterparts in organising exchange programmes and visits. Since late 2023, all newly recruited Immigration Officers have been arranged to attend the National Affairs and Immigration Control Training Course for Immigration Officer Trainees organised by the China People's Police University (Guangzhou), in order to strengthen their understanding of national affairs and development.
In addition, to promote a lifelong learning culture and to facilitate personal development of staff members, the department sponsors staff members to undertake various training programmes provided by other government departments or outside organisations.
The department has been committed to providing flexible and diverse learning pathways for service members with a view to enhancing the quality of the Immigration Service, while promoting a lifelong learning culture among its members to facilitate their personal development. Since 2019, the department, in the capacity of programme operator, has applied to the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) for accreditation of its induction and in-service training programmes for different grades, and for inclusion of these programmes in the Qualifications Register.
At present, the department is self-operating a total of eight training programmes accredited by the HKCAAVQ. They include the four programmes pitched at Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) Level 5 (equivalent to bachelor's degree level), namely the Professional Certificate in Effective Leadership & Management for Senior Immigration Officer, the Professional Diploma in Management in Immigration Services and Control for Immigration Officer, the Professional Certificate in Frontline Management in Immigration Services and Control for Chief Immigration Assistant and the Professional Certificate in Assessment of Non-refoulement Claims under the Unified Screening Mechanism for Immigration Service Members, and the four programmes pitched at HKQF Level 4 (equivalent to associate degree or higher diploma level), namely the Professional Certificate in Preparatory Management in Immigration Services and Control for Senior Immigration Assistant, the Professional Diploma in Immigration Control and Passenger Clearance for Immigration Assistant, the Professional Diploma in Immigration Services and Control for Immigration Assistant and the Professional Certificate in Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services. From the accreditation of the above programmes to the end of 2024, a total of 4,255 service members, comprising 101 Senior Immigration Officers, 573 Immigration Officers, 320 Chief Immigration Assistants, 373 Senior Immigration Assistants and 2,888 Immigration Assistants, had completed the training programmes. The department will continue to apply for inclusion of various training programmes in the Qualifications Register so that more service members can acquire the relevant professional qualifications.
To support the development of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) and to train professionals to provide assistance to Hong Kong residents requiring assistance outside Hong Kong, the department optimised the two-day AHU training course into a five-day professional certificate programme in 2023.
To further promote the programme, the department obtained approval from the HKCAAVQ in February 2024 to extend its target participants to cover members of various disciplined services and other government officers. The programme was also renamed the 'Professional Certificate in Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services'.
In 2024, the department conducted 3 courses for a total of 119 service members, from the ranks of Immigration Assistant to Senior Immigration Officer. Additionally, 6 representatives from the Fire Services Department, Hong Kong Police Force and Customs and Excise Department were also invited to participate in the courses.
The ISITD conducts two major categories of training, namely induction training and in-service training. Induction training aims to equip new recruits with the necessary knowledge and skills for performing duties. The duration of the induction course for Immigration Officers is 25 weeks, whereas that for Immigration Assistants is 15 weeks. The training curriculum places equal emphasis on both theory and practice, covering topics such as laws, immigration policies and procedures, as well as the functions and organisational structure of the department, with particular attention given to nourishing a strong sense of discipline and commitment to delivering quality public services among trainees. Besides, it also includes Chinese-style foot drill, tactical and firearms training, physical fitness training, swimming and first aid. For the induction course for Immigration Officers, the management and leadership skills of trainees will be further strengthened through various types of training activities such as management workshops, supervision exercises and leadership training camps. Topics ranging from the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems', the Constitution of the People's Republic of China (the Constitution), the Basic Law, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong National Security Law), the country's system and major policies, as well as the civil service's core values and public service culture have also been included in the training curriculum.
In 2024, a total of 128 Immigration Officers and 239 Immigration Assistants completed induction training at the ISITD.
In 2024, the ISITD organised various in-service training courses, including professional diploma and certificate programmes accredited under the HKQF, Immigration Officer Consolidation Training, Immigration Officer Enhancement Course, customer service and mediation training programmes, Chinese-style Foot Drill Training Course, tactical and firearms training as well as team building training, for 2,035 service members of different ranks to sharpen their minds and skills.
In addition, training courses on ICONS and automated immigration clearance are also provided for service members at control points. In 2024, a total of 249 officers and supervisors working at control points received the relevant training.
To heighten service members' sense of national identity and belonging to the country, the department has not only incorporated elementary national studies, covering topics such as the Constitution of the PRC and the Basic Law, into the induction and in-service training programmes, but also fully implemented Chinese-style foot drill training, so that service members can have a deeper understanding of their obligation as civil servants to uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the HKSAR Government and continue to contribute to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the well-being of the people with the core values of professionalism, integrity, patriotism and love for Hong Kong. Apart from the knowledge related to the Hong Kong National Security Law, the ISITD has also included the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in the internal training programmes with a view to enhancing service members' awareness of the relevant issues.
Since the introduction of Chinese-style foot drill in departmental ceremonies in 1999, the department has regularly invited the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army to conduct Chinese-style foot drill training, so that the Departmental Contingent and training staff can learn more about Chinese-style foot drill, thereby consolidating the effectiveness of relevant training.
To support the National Security Education Day, the ISITD held an open day on 13 April 2024, attracting over 4,000 visitors to the event. The department aimed to raise the national security and law-abiding awareness of members of the public through the open day's activities, including explanation and demonstrations of the department's daily work, exhibitions and guided tours, try-out sessions as well as booth games, etc. The event also highlighted the department's values and missions in maintaining and implementing the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems', safeguarding national security as well as tightly guarding the country's southern gateway. To add to the event's atmosphere, the Immigration Band played multiple pieces of distinctive Chinese military music and performed a spectacular band drill as an expression of the territory's best wishes to and affection for the motherland. As this year marked the 10th anniversary of the Holistic Approach to National Security put forward by President Xi Jinping, the Departmental Contingent held flags bearing the Five Essential Elements of the Holistic Approach to National Security while performing foot drill, and formed a pentagon symbolising the five key Co-ordination Tasks of the Holistic Approach to National Security, with a view to deepening public understanding of national security. Besides, the Emergency Response Team of the Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre demonstrated how to handle emergencies in the centre professionally and promptly with the use of various firearms and anti-riot equipment, showcasing the department's response capabilities to resolve incidents endangering public security.
With the aim of enabling newly recruited induction trainees' appreciation of the significance of national security, as well as deepening serving staff's understanding of the Holistic Approach National Security and their sense of ownership, the department arranged for them to visit the National Security Exhibition Gallery. The department's service member, being appointed as National Security Youth Ambassador, also provided voluntary docent services to colleagues and the public in the Gallery. As at 31 December 2024, a total of 164 induction trainees and 1,977 serving staff were arranged to visit the gallery.
The Security Bureau led its disciplined services and auxiliary services, together with youth uniformed groups, to hold the Grand Parade by Disciplined Services and Youth Groups cum Fun Day for Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China at the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy on 1 October 2024. To share the joy of National Day with the public, members assembled during the performances to form patterns, including the number '75' and the national flag. The disciplined services participating in the parade included the Immigration Department, the Correctional Services Department, the Customs and Excise Department, the Fire Services Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Government Flying Service. The Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps (IDYL) and youth groups of various disciplined services and auxiliary services also participated.
With a view to enhancing public understanding of the constitutional basis and order of the country and Hong Kong, as well as promoting the spirit of the Constitution, the Security Bureau led its disciplined services to hold the Constitution Day Flag Raising Ceremony at the Hong Kong Customs College on 4 December 2024, which was officiated by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul LAM Ting-kwok, SC. The disciplined services ceremonial guard and the flag party, comprising more than 100 members, marched in with Chinese-style foot drill and conducted the flag-raising ceremony.
To enhance frontline staff's awareness of resistance control and escort safety, the ISITD has been conducting half-day to two-day tactical training courses, covering topics such as resistance control techniques and the use of different types of self-defence equipment, for service members from the ranks of Immigration Assistant to Senior Immigration Officer.
To ensure that service members can perform repatriation operations more effectively and safely, the ISITD is equipped with a 'Scenario Training Flight Cabin', which is built to the actual dimensions of a passenger aircraft cabin, providing a realistic environment for conducting diversified scenario-based training to enhance frontline staff members' capabilities in carrying out repatriation operations.
The ISITD has also been providing training on firearms and anti-riot equipment for service members, including induction trainees, to cope with the diversified work of the department. The courses include the Pepperball Launcher Qualification Course, JPX4 Jet Protector Operator Course, Tactics and Management Course in CIC Operation, as well as training courses for the Emergency Response Team.
To enhance our staff's communication skills and techniques in handling disputes, mediation techniques have been included in the Customer Service Workshop since July 2017. A total of 616 officers, from the ranks of Immigration Assistant to Immigration Officer, participated in the workshop in 2024.
Besides, in order to strengthen our frontline management staff's ability to deal with complaints and conflicts in the workplace, a two-day advanced Mediation and Communication Workshop was conducted by the ISITD for service members from the ranks of Senior Immigration Assistant to Senior Immigration Officer in 2024. A total of 61 frontline staff members attended the workshop.
To strengthen the communication skills, teamwork and sense of discipline of frontline staff, the ISITD conducted a five-day Building a Supportive Team Workshop for service members at the ranks at Immigration Officer, Chief Immigration Assistant and Senior Immigration Assistant in 2024. A total of 24 frontline staff members participated in the workshop.
To promote lifelong learning and support our staff in coping with new challenges at work, the ISITD provides various e-learning programmes for staff members on the department's Intranet. It has also worked together with the Civil Service Bureau since May 2010 to launch various e-learning programmes on the e-learning platform 'Cyber Learning Centre Plus'. Through these two platforms, staff members can learn according to their own pace and schedules.
Moreover, staff members can browse and search the book collections of the Learning Resource Centre, watch videos and photographs of training activities, and gain access to other useful reference materials through the ISITD's homepage on the department's Intranet.
The ISITD also arranges for service members of various ranks to attend training courses organised by other departments, organisations and institutes. They include management, language, communication, emotional wellness and national studies courses organised by the Civil Service College of the Civil Service Bureau, as well as command courses and criminal investigation courses organised by the Hong Kong Police Force.
To better ensure the safety of our staff in the office and that of the public, 40 and 49 serving staff members attended the Basic First Aid Course and the Refresher First Aid Course respectively during the year. Moreover, a total of 327 induction trainees attended the Certificate in First Aid Course and the Automated External Defibrillation Certificate Course.
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On 1 October 2024, the Security Bureau held the Grand Parade by Disciplined Services and Youth Groups cum Fun Day for Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China. The IDYL joined the parade together with other disciplined services and youth groups in Chinese-style foot drill and jointly performed lion and dragon dance and Chinese Martial Arts with other youth group members.
The department has always played an active role in youth training. In the 2024/25 school year, the ISITD and the Education Bureau jointly organised 2 Smart Teen Challenge Camps for 78 junior secondary school students to give them a taste of the training life at the ISITD, enrich their understanding of the department's daily work and help them build self-confidence, sense of discipline and esprit de corps through the five-day, four-night residential training camps.
In 2013, the department formed its uniformed group, known as the Immigration Department Youth Leaders, to provide systematic disciplinary and leadership training for Secondary Three to Secondary Six students. In 2021, the group was officially renamed the Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps with its membership expanded to include Secondary One to Secondary Six students in order to benefit more young people. The training covers national education, immigration knowledge, Chinese-style foot drill, physical fitness, community services and outdoor adventure training. It aimed to heighten members' sense of national identity, foster patriotism and their love for Hong Kong, and develop their law-abiding awareness and self-discipline, while nurturing good character, developing leadership skills and positive thinking, and arousing enthusiasm for serving the community among members.
In 2023, the post-secondary student team 'IDYL Plus' was established to enable members to continue their IDYL training after being admitted to post-secondary institutions. These members would take up senior leadership roles, pass on the values of the IDYL and share their personal experiences with younger members.
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the IDYL organised a summer exchange tour to Shanghai in July, and the special arrangement for 75 IDYL members to join the tour was of symbolic significance. The exchange tour aimed to provide IDYL members an opportunity to look back on the country's founding history, and to exchange ideas with local young people, inspire one another and join hands in building a future for the country.
Moreover, the ISITD will send dedicated training officers to schools to provide regular training for members, with a view to providing young people with companionship.
Besides, an Advisory Committee comprised of enthusiastic individuals from various sectors of the community was established to assist and advise on the sustainable development of the IDYL. The Advisory Committee for 2024-27 took office on 1 July 2024, with its membership increased to 22. This would help provide more support and advice on the direction and activity planning of the IDYL.
As at 31 December 2024, 24 secondary schools had joined the IDYL and its membership exceeded 950.
Human resource development is essential to the healthy and sustainable development of the department. To equip our staff for meeting challenges at work, the ISITD continued to arrange for staff members to receive training in the Mainland and overseas, and participate in exchange activities with relevant law enforcement agencies, so as to broaden their horizons, enhance their professional knowledge and develop their management and leadership skills, thereby realising their potential.
Following the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, study programmes in the Mainland for service members were also resumed. In 2024, the ISITD arranged for a total of 366 service members to attend training courses at various Mainland institutes, such as the China People's Police University, the China Foreign Affairs University and the First Standing Force of the National Immigration Administration.
In 2024, the ISITD arranged for a total of 18 delegations with 298 Mainland officials of various ranks and 1 delegation with 10 Macao officials to attend exchange programmes in Hong Kong so as to strengthen our co-operation and communication with both the Mainland and Macao counterparts.
In order to consolidate the concept of national security among Immigration Officer trainees, deepen their understanding of the history and development of our motherland, and enhance their knowledge of national immigration as well as the management system of frontier inspection, with the staunch support of The Ministry of Public Security and the China People's Police University, the department has arranged for a total of 200 Immigration Officer trainees to attend the National Affairs and Immigration Control Training Course for Immigration Officer Traines at the China People's Police University (Guangzhou) since October 2023. The department will actively liaise with relevant Mainland authorities to extend the Mainland training programmes to cover Immigration Assistant trainees in the future.
The department launched the Immigration Department Youth Ambassador Programme (the Programme) in November 2023 and used the Immigration Divisions of the Mainland Offices of the HKSAR Government as bases to recruit young people from Hong Kong who are studying and living in various provinces in the Mainland as Youth Ambassadors. Since the launch of the Programme, the department has appointed 32 Youth Ambassadors in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Wuhan.
The appointed Youth Ambassadors will have diverse learning opportunities provided by the department during their one-year term and collaborate with the Immigration Divisions of the Mainland Offices of the HKSAR Government in disseminating the latest information and introducing to the public regarding the business scope of the department. The department expects that the Programme will broaden the Youth Ambassadors' horizons and lay solid groundwork for their future positions in society.
Six Immigration Department Youth Ambassadors from Beijing and Guangzhou were arranged with internships in various sections of the department to deepen their understanding of the department's scope of operations and lay a solid foundation for their future roles in society.
In order to strengthen the Immigration staff's knowledge of national security as well as deepen their understanding of our motherland's history and development, the department arranged for 164 induction trainees and 1,977 staff members to visit the National Security Exhibition Gallery in 2024.
The induction training provided by the ISITD combines both theory and practice, thoroughly preparing trainees for their future work.
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The induction training provided by the ISITD combines both theory and practice, thoroughly preparing trainees for their future work.
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The induction training provided by the ISITD combines both theory and practice, thoroughly preparing trainees for their future work.
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The ISITD regularly invites the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison to conduct exchange sessions on Chinese-style foot drill training to strengthen the Chinese-style foot drill fundamental skills of the Immigration Service members and strengthen the foot drill technique of the Departmental Contingent members.
The ISITD organised various in-service training courses for Immigration Service members of different ranks to improve their management skills and to enhance their communication skills and team spirit in the workplace, so as to meet the operational needs.
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In support of the National Security Education Day, the ISITD held an open day featuring exhibitions, guided tours, interactive try-out sessions and booth games. The event, attracting over 4,000 participants, aimed to deepen public understanding of the department and its efforts and achievements in safeguarding national security.
The Immigration Band performed at the ISITD Passing-out Parade.
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The Recruitment Experience Days held in May 2024 provided members of the public interested in immigration affairs with a preview and hands-on experience of the recruitment process. The event received an enthusiastic response, attracting approximately 2,000 participants.
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The Detention Centre Management course has been incorporated into Immigration Officer and Immigration Assistant induction courses, preparing service members for the department's diverse duties.
Apart from enriching job-related knowledge and providing skill-based training, upholding a high standard of integrity among staff is of equal importance. To allow our staff to keep abreast of the up-to-date ethical guidelines for civil servants, the 'Guide on Conduct and Discipline' has been uploaded onto the department's Intranet. The guide lists real-life examples regarding conflicts of interest and personal conduct. It also emphasises supervisors' accountability for supervising subordinates and dealing with conflicts of interest. The department also reminds all staff to adhere to the core values stated in the guide in order to uphold the highest standard of integrity and continuously enhance the quality and efficiency of services provided for the community.
The department attaches great importance to engaging in a close dialogue with staff through various channels of consultation and communication between management and staff, including formal committees' meetings, informal meetings, group discussions, welfare visits and newsletters, in order to improve staff welfare and the relations between the department and staff continuously, and strengthen staff's esprit de corps and commitment. In addition, various sports and recreational activities are organised to deepen mutual understanding and trust between management and staff. Staff are encouraged to offer suggestions on improving their working environment and service quality, which will be dealt with seriously and expeditiously.
The Immigration Department Consultative Committee is a formal consultative forum between management and staff. It aims at achieving a better understanding of and promoting co-operation between both sides on matters affecting staff's well-being such as conditions of service, allocation of quarters, training, promotion and career development. The committee meets quarterly and is chaired by Assistant Director (Management and Support). The management side comprises 7 members, while the staff side comprises 20 members who are representatives from Immigration Officer, Immigration Assistant and civilian grades. A representative from the Civil Service Bureau also attends the meetings of the committee.
Apart from formal and informal meetings between management and staff, Welfare Officers of the department pay regular visits to staff at their workplace to understand their concerns and feelings. To maintain closer contact with frontline staff, enrich understanding among staff members and strengthen esprit de corps and communication, the Frontline Supporting Team was formed in July 2007 under the Welfare Section to pay frequent visits to frontline service members with a view to sharing views on work-related issues and relaying their requests. From its establishment to 31 December 2024, the team paid 374 visits to various frontline sections and offices.
In addition, Welfare Officers pay hospital visits to staff members who are ill or injured and pay home visits to those in need to provide after-care assistance. In 2024, a total of 444 consolation for injuries or illnesses were offered and 2 hospital/home visits were made.
Welfare Officers also conduct individual meetings with staff members who feel stressed due to work pressure or personal problems and provide them with counselling service or assistance. In 2024, 17 meetings were conducted.
In order to render more extensive support for the mental health of our staff and provide immediate professional counselling service for staff in need, the Immigration Wellness Service Centre was set up with a Clinical Psychologist providing professional counselling service to help our staff manage pressure arising from their work and life positively. Moreover, the Clinical Psychologist assists the management in formulating and implementing programmes, including Delighting Your Work, Stress Management, Introduction to Mental Illness, and Post-traumatic Stress Responses and Interventions, for improving the psychological well-being and mental health of staff. As at 31 December 2024, the centre had provided 2,662 sessions of personal psychological counselling and organised 386 talks.
In addition, to foster a healthy and balanced lifestyle among our staff, the centre organises programmes on promotion of physical and mental health, and professional speakers are invited from time to time to deliver health talks on various topics. As at 31 December 2024, the centre organised 69 health talks to raise our staff's consciousness of healthy living.
A Peer Support Network was established to enhance peer support among staff of various sections. At present, around 300 disciplined and civilian staff have enrolled as peer counsellors under the network and they have all received training in basic counselling skills and introduction to mental health. The Clinical Psychologist and Welfare Officers also meet the peer counsellors from time to time to learn about their counselling service and to give them suggestions on how to handle difficult cases. The centre will continue to arrange suitable courses for the peer counsellors to enhance their counselling skills and invite more staff members to join the network.
With the support of the Sports and Recreation Team of the Welfare Section, the Immigration Department Staff Club (IDSC) has been committed to organising various sports and recreational activities for our staff and their families to promote a healthy lifestyle, enhance understanding among staff members and boost esprit de corps. A wide range of sports activities, including various ball games, the Sports Day, the Swimming Gala and regular yoga classes are arranged for staff. Recreational programmes such as hiking, one-day local tour, nighttime cuttlefish fishing, lunchtime music show, the Annual Dinner, the Departmental Singing Contest and the Chinese New Year gathering are also organised for the amusement of staff and their families.
In 2024, the IDSC organised a number of new activities, including the Darts Competition and the 'Safeguarding National Security Cup' cum 'Director's Cup' seven-a-side Soccer Tournament, which were well received by staff members.
To promote the sustainable development of the departmental sports teams and enhance the esprit de corps of the department, the IDSC appointed 17 officers as honorary managers of the departmental sports teams. Under the leadership of the team managers, the departmental sports team members use their spare time to organise training and participate in inter-disciplined services and open competitions, which have greatly raised the team spirit and promoted work-life balance among staff members.
It is hoped that staff members can relax their body and mind and improve their physical co-ordination by playing different sports, and learn to cope with stress, enhance their psychological well-being and strengthen their liaison with different sectors of the community as well as other disciplined services through participating in different sports competitions.
In 2024, the department continued to attain excellent results in various disciplined services tournaments and open competitions. In particular, the departmental teams won championships in the Inter-Disciplined Services Men's Volleyball Competition, the Women's and Mixed four-a-side events of the Inter-Disciplinary Forces Beach Volleyball Tournament, the Women's division of the Disciplined Services Basketball Tournament and both the Individual (Nett) and Team (Nett) divisions of the Disciplined Services Golf Tournament.
The Immigration Band was established in May 2015. It aims at gathering a group of service members who are passionate about music to practise and share experience with one another in their spare time with a view to refining their temperament and serving the community through music. Currently, the band has around 60 musicians and performs a wide variety of music, including military music, orchestral music, Chinese music, pop music, etc. The band regularly performs at departmental events and parades, and has from time to time been invited to perform and engage in exchange on various occasions.
The band uses music as a bridge and is dedicated to promoting cultural exchange between the Mainland and Hong Kong. In March 2024, the band was invited by Public Security Police Force of Macao to participate in a cultural exchange event for disciplinary forces from Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao, giving a joint performance with the bands of the Public Security Police Force of Macao and the Zhuhai General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection on the Macao Public Security Police Force Day. In August 2024, the band once again collaborated with Macao and Zhuhai counterparts to jointly produce and perform the song 'Guardian of Faith', which demonstrated the determination of the three places to safeguard prosperity and stability in the Greater Bay Area. The music video for the song later won second prize in the 3rd National Immigration Management Agencies Micro-video Competition organised by the National Immigration Administration.
Besides, the band upholds the department's values of patriotism and love for Hong Kong, and endeavours to promote Chinese culture and enhance civic awareness by means of music. The band's Chinese Music Ensemble regularly performs traditional folk tunes and Chinese music arrangements of popular songs at public events. Notably, the ensemble's outstanding performance at the Hong Kong Flower Show 2024 enable the public to further understand and appreciate Chinese culture through music. In the same year, the band held two National Day concerts at the new Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O. In addition to departmental staff and their families and friends, invitations were also extended to students and members of the community, with a view to promoting the values of patriotism, love for Hong Kong and care for the community.
Furthermore, the Immigration Pop Band was established in 2024, with the vision of blending classical and Chinese music with pop music in innovative ways, bringing a fresh and vibrant musical experience to the community.
To encourage our staff to participate in voluntary social service during their spare time, the Immigration Department Volunteer Work Team (IDVWT) was set up under the IDSC. In collaboration with different social welfare organisations, the IDVWT has participated in a wide range of community services and charity events over the years, making a significant contribution to the community. In addition, the IDVWT also works with the Agency for Volunteer Service and volunteer work teams of other departments to actively participate in many volunteer services to support people in need. In respect of elderly service, the IDVWT has from time to time provided assistance to the infirm in hospitals or residents of residential care homes for the elderly, so that they can participate in different community activities, such as Chinese New Year celebrations, visits to parks and tours to scenic spots and theme parks, which have enriched their life. During special festivals, the IDVWT pays visits to the singleton elderly, not only to show its concern and send them best wishes, but also help relay their needs to the organisations concerned for follow-up. Besides, the IDVWT has also been actively supporting a variety of major sports events in the community, such as 'Run with Your Heart', 'Green Power Hike','Hong Kong International Airport‧Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon: Three-Runway System 10km International Race', 'Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon', 'Oxfam Trailwalker', etc., in the hope of spreading positive energy and vitality to every corner of the community.
To promote excellence in service quality, the department established the Quality Assurance Division in June 2019 for conducting management audits and reviewing complaints from the public. The Management Audit Section under the Quality Assurance Division pays visits to various control points and offices to ensure that immigration policies, application procedures and administration rules have been properly followed. It also makes recommendations on ways to further improve the quality of work and customer service.
The Management Audit Section has obtained the International Organisation for Standardisation's ISO 9001:2015 'Quality management system' and ISO 10002:2018 'Quality management – Customer satisfaction' certifications since 2021. Its Customer Services Unit is responsible for receiving complaints from the public and monitoring relevant replies. All investigated complaints are further analysed and reviewed by the Complaints Review Working Party, headed by Assistant Director (Management and Support) with members from the Quality Assurance Division and the Management Audit Section. The working party gives advice on whether the complaints are justified and recommends improvements where necessary. In 2024, 1 complaint reviewed was found substantiated. In the same year, the department received 6,538 letters of appreciation and notes of thanks.
In 2024, Mr CHING Wo-mok, Wallace, Deputy Director of Immigration, and Mr FAN Hiu-sing, Hillson, Assistant Director of Immigration, were awarded the Hong Kong Immigration Service Medal for Distinguished Service. Five other officers were awarded the Hong Kong Immigration Service Medal for Meritorious Service. In addition, three staff members of our department were awarded the Chief Executive's Commendation for Government/Public Service.
Immigration officers who have completed certain years of outstanding service with exemplary character and good conduct will be awarded medals and clasps. In 2024, a total of 20 officers were awarded the Long Service Medal after 18 years of service; 109 officers were awarded the First Clasp to the Medal after 25 years of service; 31 officers were awarded the Second Clasp to the Medal after 30 years of service; and 21 officers were awarded the Third Clasp to the Medal after 33 years of service. For commendation at the departmental level, 71 officers were awarded the Director's Commendation and 74 officers were awarded the Assistant Director's Commendation.
The Communications and Public Affairs Section is the department's news agency which serves as the key link between the department and the media. It is responsible for maintaining close and effective communication with the media, answering media enquiries, drawing up publicity plans for the department and promulgating the department's latest policies. The section, which maintains frequent and close liaison with outside organisations, is also the department's representative in handling public affairs and participating in social functions and activities.
In September 2024, the department launched an official Xiaohongshu account to strengthen its connection with members of the public, including Mainland residents. Since 2016, the department has been setting up accounts on major social media platforms, sharing posts and short videos in a relatable, engaging and accessible manner, so as to provide members of the public with the latest news and information about the department.
In 2024, the section issued press releases, answered media enquiries, produced promotional short videos and conducted press briefings on various issues and major events of the department. These included the immigration clearance arrangements during festive holiday periods, the Consular Protection Month, the phased invalidation of the old form of Hong Kong identity cards and the introduction of self-application services for Hong Kong identity cards, 'Mutual Use of QR Code between HKSAR and Macao SAR Clearance Service', IDYL Summer Exchange Tour to Shanghai, enforcement actions against cross-boundary forgery syndicates, and the identity card replacement service for the community. In addition, to remind the public of the relocation of the department's headquarters and the opening of the new headquarters in Tseung Kwan O in June, the section adopted a multi-pronged approach to publicise and promote the facilities and services of the new headquarters by producing themed videos for uploading to social media platforms, organising press conferences, and giving media interviews. In line with the government's initiatives to attract talent, the department also released videos produced by the section across social media platforms to promote various talent admission schemes.
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In September 2024, eight Hong Kong students studying in Wuhan were appointed as Youth Ambassadors under the Immigration Department Youth Ambassador Programme.
The Information and Liaison Section is mainly responsible for handling public enquiries regarding the services provided by the department. The Immigration Enquiry Services System currently employed by the section helps centrally process public enquiries made by phone, email, fax and letter, and in person.
To provide better services for the public, the section has all along been committed to enhancing the functions of the existing enquiry services system. Currently, the system provides one-stop service covering functions such as transferring enquiry calls to the department's 24-hour Telephone Appointment Booking System and Telephone Application Status Enquiry System. Besides, the section has made available the self-service call-flow diagram of the General Enquiry Hotline on the department's homepage for public reference.
The new Immigration Headquarters was commissioned on June 11, 2024 with a view to continuously enhancing service standards and providing higher-quality, more convenient and diversified public services.
Since the establishment of the department, our work is closely related to the daily life of members of the public. We have also grown with Hong Kong and witnessed various social changes. As times change and our business evolves, the responsibilities and duties shouldered by the department have continued to increase. As a result, our staff establishment, operational facilities and office spaces required have also grown substantially. To further enhance service standards and increase the command and operational efficiency, the department obtained funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council in May 2019 for the construction of a new headquarters in Tseung Kwan O. The construction works commenced in June 2019, after more than four years of dedicated effort, the new headquarters was completed and handed over to the department in September 2023. Relevant offices and facilities were then relocated to the new headquarters in phases in 2024. 'Embarking on a new vision, marking a new milestone', with the official commissioning of the new headquarters on 11 June, 2024, the department will continue to enhance its service standards and strive to provide members of the public with higher-quality, more convenient and a wider range of public services.
Located in the Tseung Kwan O town centre, the new headquarters comprises two towers, namely the Administration Tower and the Enforcement Tower. It is adjacent to Tseung Kwan O and Tiu Keng Leng MTR Stations, and suitably connected to the pedestrian walkway systems in the vicinity, making it easily accessible to members of the public by various means of public transport.
The new headquarters provides a net operational floor area of approximately 57,400 square metres and is equipped with enhanced facilities and infrastructure, enabling the department to set up various public-facing offices and general offices. It also provides additional space for new facilities, such as a marriage hall and an indoor firing range, to cater for the operational and development needs of the department. In response to social needs and public expectations of our services, the department is making wider use of innovative technologies and introducing more smart features at the new headquarters. For instance, a total of 54 new personal documentation kiosks have been provided. The service hours of some of the kiosks have been further extended to 10 pm in order to facilitate eligible applicants' access to the services beyond office hours.
The department will continue to strive to enhance its command and operational efficiency and strengthen its professional competence, with a view to supporting its sustainable growth and providing more efficient and higher-quality services to the public.