Hong Kong residents born in 1960 or 1961 should apply for new smart identity cards on or before April 20, 2020, and caring arrangement of identity card replacement with accompanied elderly has been extended to persons with disabilities

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (March 9) that Hong Kong residents born in 1960 or 1961 should apply for a new smart Hong Kong identity card (HKIC) in person at a Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre (SIDCC) (at Annex I) on or before April 20, 2020 (Monday). The SIDCCs will be open from Mondays to Saturdays, from 8am to 10pm (except public holidays).

     Furthermore, the caring measure of the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise (Replacement Exercise) has been extended to persons with disabilities (PwDs). An eligible applicant for HKIC replacement may bring along up to two PwDs, in addition to two family members or friends aged 65 or above, to replace HKICs together during the same visit to an SIDCC.

     PwDs who intend to apply for a new HKIC together with eligible applicants under the aforementioned new measure only need to bring along their existing smart HKIC and provide relevant documentation or information to ImmD as proof of their PwD identity upon HKIC replacement. Examples include the Registration Card for People with Disabilities issued by the Labour and Welfare Bureau, information or documents showing that the applicant is a recipient of Disability Allowance, proof of membership of PwDs service units subvented by the Social Welfare Department, proof of student status of special schools or medical proof (e.g. patient's follow-up record, etc.).

      The accompanied PwD must be a holder of the old form of smart HKIC. If his/her HKIC is the one for juveniles (aged 11 to 17) or minors (under the age of 11), it is worth noting the following:

HKIC holders who were born in 2005 to 2007 and are under the age of 18 during the Replacement Exercise period (i.e. from 2019 to 2022) must be accompanied by his/her father/mother or legal guardian for HKIC replacement, who should produce the applicant's existing smart HKIC together with relevant documentation as proof of the applicant's PwD identity. The accompanying father/mother or legal guardian should also produce his/her proof of identity (e.g. HKIC or other valid travel document). If the applicant is accompanied by a legal guardian, the legal guardian should produce documentary proof of the legal guardianship.
HKIC holders who were born in 2012 or after and are under the age of 11 during the Replacement Exercise period must be accompanied by his/her father/mother or legal guardian for HKIC replacement, who should produce the applicant's existing smart HKIC, original of the applicant's other proof of identity (e.g. passport or other valid travel document) or the latest school document (bearing the applicant's photo authenticated by the school, e.g. student handbook or school record card), the applicant's recent full-face photo with size of 50 X 40 millimetres (if the applicant is not taller than 90 centimetres) and relevant documentation as proof of the applicant's PwD identity. The accompanying father/mother or legal guardian should also produce his/her proof of identity (e.g. HKIC or other valid travel document). If the applicant is accompanied by a legal guardian, the legal guardian should produce documentary proof of the legal guardianship. Under the existing legislation, Hong Kong residents under the age of 11 are not required to register for an HKIC. Therefore, Hong Kong residents born in 2012 or after are not involved in the Replacement Exercise unless they are HKIC holders in connection with their applications for a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport.
HKIC holders who were born in 2008 to 2011 or 2001 to 2004 and will reach the age of 11 or 18 respectively during the Replacement Exercise period are required to apply for a juvenile or adult HKIC at one of the Registration of Persons Offices within 30 days upon attaining the age of 11 or 18 respectively and need not replace their HKIC under the Replacement Exercise.

     "The Replacement Exercise covers all Hong Kong residents, who should apply for new smart HKICs in person at SIDCCs during their specified periods, whether they are permanent residents or non-permanent residents taking up employment, investment, residence or study in Hong Kong. Applicants need to bring along their existing smart HKICs when they proceed to the SIDCCs. If eligible Hong Kong residents are absent from Hong Kong during their call-up period, they can apply within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong," an ImmD spokesman added.

     Eligible applicants may make appointment bookings via the Internet (www.gov.hk/newicbooking), the ImmD mobile application or the 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2121 1234. To make an appointment booking via the Internet or to download the mobile application, please scan the attached QR codes (at Annex II). The ImmD appeals to applicants to pre-fill the application form when making appointment bookings through the Internet or mobile application in order to enjoy faster service.

     For details of the Replacement Exercise, please visit the website www.smartid.gov.hk or call the ImmD's enquiry hotline at 2824 6111.