Tag Archives: China

     Following is a question by the Hon Yim Kong and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (January 17):
 
Question:
 
     It is learnt that contactless clearance adopts biometric technologies such as facial recognition for automated clearance verification. There are views that apart from enhancing clearance efficiency, expediting the implementation of contactless clearance which goes without gate checking formalities at various immigration control points in Hong Kong also helps to actively dovetail with the National 14th Five-Year Plan to promote Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology centre. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) as the Government has indicated in the new Policy Address that it will study with the Shenzhen Municipal Government the use of facial recognition technology to achieve contactless clearance, so as to provide travel convenience for scientific research personnel at the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, of the latest implementation progress and timetable of the Parks concerned, as well as the specific arrangements relating to contactless clearance (including whether the relevant arrangements will be implemented this year to expedite the co-operation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in innovation and technology);
 
(2) whether it has discussed with the Shenzhen authorities the implementation of contactless clearance at the redeveloped Huanggang Port; if so, of the specific arrangements; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) given that eligible Hong Kong residents who have enrolled can go through self-service immigration clearance formalities in the “Contactless e-Channels” set up at various immigration control points with the use of the relevant QR codes and facial recognition technology, whether the Government has reviewed the security and reliability of the relevant service; if it has reviewed and the outcome is in the affirmative, whether the Government will proactively consider implementing contactless clearance which goes without gate checking formalities at various immigration control points (including the airport) as a next step?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Immigration Department (ImmD) has been utilising technologies to enhance the handling capacity of the ports. Back in December 2004, the ImmD has already introduced the automated clearance system (e-Channel) service, which uses identification documents and fingerprints for identity authentication.
      
     In order to provide more convenient automated clearance services, the ImmD also launched the “Contactless e-Channel” at various ports in December 2021. Citizens can use the “iAM Smart” mobile application to verify their identity and complete their registration through the ImmD’s “Contactless e-Channel” mobile application. Registered Hong Kong residents do not need to present their identification documents when using the “Contactless e-Channel”. They only need to scan the encrypted QR code displayed on the mobile application for the system to read their personal data before entering the e-Channels. Facial recognition technology is used to compare the read personal data to confirm their identities. The immigration clearance will then be completed and they can pass through the gate to leave. The entire process only takes about seven seconds, which is 13 per cent faster than the eight seconds required by traditional e-Channels, and has further enhanced the efficiency of port clearance, providing passengers with more convenient immigration service.
 
     As for contactless clearance, it generally refers to the clearance process which does not require presentation of any identification documents (including relevant QR codes) but by directly using facial recognition to verify the users’ identities against the database. Since this technology requires real-time comparison against all data in the database, to ensure immigration clearance efficiency, at this stage we believe that contactless clearance is technically more suitable for ports serving specific groups of pre-verified individuals below the population of 100 000. 
 
     Currently, the ImmD already has an example of implementing contactless clearance. Starting from October 2022, the Hong Kong International Airport has put in place the Flight Token service. Passengers only need to show their faces for identity verification during the check-in procedure in order to store their personal data in the database for comparison purpose. Thereafter, for subsequent procedures in the airport including departure and boarding, it is only necessary to use facial recognition for identity verification, instead of repeated presentation of travel documents and boarding passes. During departure, eligible Hong Kong residents only need to scan their faces at the ImmD’s Flight Token contactless e-Channel cameras to complete departure clearance without the need to present any identification documents nor QR codes, thereby achieving contactless clearance.
 
     My reply to the Member’s question is as follows:
 
(1) The Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (Co-operation Zone) locates at the convergence point of the Northern Metropolis and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen innovation and technology corridor, which consists of the 87-hectare Hong Kong Park (i.e. Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park) and the 300-hectare Shenzhen Park. The first three buildings of the first phase of the Hong Kong Park will be completed gradually from the end of 2024 as planned.
 
     The Co-operation Zone will operate under the mode of “one zone, two parks”, with research personnel going to work early and returning home late between 2 places every day. As such, it is necessary to provide convenient clearance mode and facilities to allow designated personnel to enjoy travel convenience by, for example, enabling those who have pre-registered under the system to enjoy streamlined travel between the two parks, and adopting technology to facilitate faster movement. In addition, to facilitate innovation and technology (I&T) personnel travelling frequently between two sides every day, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government are exploring the construction of cross-river footbridge between two parks but details such as exact location, clearance mode and construction timetable are subject to discussion between the two Governments.
      
     To facilitate the travel of I&T personnel between the two places, the Security Bureau will collaborate with the mainland authorities concerned to actively explore an innovative clearance mode which will allow designated personnel of both places to go through immigration clearance by using a cross-river footbridge. Our target is to allow I&T personnel of both sides who have pre-verified their eligibility to use facial recognition technology to verify their identities, thereby achieving contactless clearance.
 
(2) The Governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen are currently pressing ahead with the redevelopment of the Huanggang Port in full steam, including actively studying the implementation of the user-friendly clearance mode of “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” in the new Huanggang Port.
 
     Under this clearance mode, automatic channels/counters of both sides will be set up side by side within their respective jurisdiction at the boundary inside the port, such that outbound and inbound visitors only need to queue up to have their documents inspected and their identities verified once to pass through the immigration facilities of both sides in order to complete the respective immigration procedures, which is highly convenient.
      
     At present, the two Governments have reached preliminary consensus on implementing the “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode at the new Huanggang Port and are discussing the operational details in depth. Taking Hong Kong residents holding Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents as an example, if they wish to use the collaborative inspection automatic channels, they will need to pre-register and already authorised the immigration departments of both Hong Kong and Shenzhen for the collection, holding, processing or use of their personal data (including travel document numbers, facial features and fingerprint information). During the clearance process for pre-registered Hong Kong residents, the immigration departments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen will only compare the read document data with their respective databases and there is no data sharing involved. For those who do not wish to use the collaborative inspection service, they can still choose other clearance channels such as traditional manual inspection channels.
      
     Since the new Huanggang Port is expected to be a high-volume port that can be used by all residents and visitors from Hong Kong and Shenzhen, with the number of people who can use the port far exceeding 100 000, we are currently not considering implementing contactless clearance at the port.
 
(3) As contactless clearance is suitable for ports serving specific groups of individuals with pre-verified eligibility, we believe that it is not suitable for ports serving general passengers at this stage. As for the airport, we believe that the current gateway design of the Flight Token contactless e-Channels is conducive to immigration control by facilitating the interception and handling of individual cases (such as wanted persons), and hence is necessary for security purpose. If the gateways are not in place, it will not only pose certain difficulties in interception, but also hinder the smooth operations and maintenance of order of the clearance channels. We therefore will not consider the option at this stage.
 
     The ImmD will review the use of immigration facilities and system operation from time to time, and continue to apply innovative technologies to immigration control with a view to providing services with enhanced convenience and quality. 
      
     Thank you, President. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:      The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced that a t… read more

     â€‹Following is a question by the Hon Elizabeth Quat and a reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, in the Legislative Council today (January 17):
 
Question:
 
     There are views that since the resumption of normal travel between the Mainland and Hong Kong early last year, the pace of recovery of visitor arrivals to Hong Kong has fallen short of expectation, and this, coupled with the change in tourism experience patterns of inbound Mainland visitors and the craze for going north for spending among Hong Kong people, has resulted in slackened consumer spending momentum locally, with the catering and retail sectors, among others, not achieving full recovery as expected. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether the Government will explore with the relevant parties in the Mainland increasing the number of cities covered by the Individual Visit Scheme in order to further attract the massive consumer groups in the Mainland to visit Hong Kong, and raising the duty-free shopping quota for inbound Mainland visitors to accelerate the recovery of the local consumption market;
 
(2) as it is learnt that many visitors from the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Middle East countries are keen to visit Hong Kong, whether the Government will introduce measures to attract more visitors from those countries to visit Hong Kong; and
 
(3) as there are views in society pointing out that Hong Kong’s tourist receiving capacity is still relatively inadequate, in particular, the relatively high accommodation cost which dampens the desire of visitors to stay overnight, while there are also occasional reports on inhospitable services provided by business operators which create a negative impact on Hong Kong’s tourism industry, of the measures put in place by the Government to expeditiously enhance the standard and capacity of Hong Kong in receiving tourists?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Tourism industry is one of the important pillars of Hong Kong’s economy, accounting for about 4.5 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product before the pandemic and provided over 250 000 employment opportunities. The local tourism industry started to resume in February 2023 and recovered at full speed with number of visitor arrivals gradually increasing. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) forecasted 25.8 million visitor arrivals in the beginning of 2023. With the concerted efforts of the Government and the travel trade, visitor arrivals reached 34 million last year, far exceeding the previous estimate. During the previous New Year’s Eve and New Year holidays, we recorded a total of around 430 000 Mainland visitor arrivals and a daily average of 140 000, which was 16 per cent and 6 per cent higher than that of the Labour Day and National Day Golden Weeks in the same year respectively and reached about 73 per cent of the average of the same period in 2017 and 2018.
 
     The reply to the question raised by the Hon Elizabeth Quat is as follows:
 
(1) The Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) has been implemented since July 28, 2003, and is currently covering 49 designated Mainland cities. In 2023, the number of visitors arriving in Hong Kong through the IVS accounted for 60 per cent of the total Mainland visitors, which is comparable to the situation before the pandemic.
 
     Expanding visitor sources to attract more high value-added overnight visitors has all along been one of the key strategies for developing Hong Kong’s tourism. Regarding various proposals to enhance IVS in an orderly manner and adjust the duty-free allowance of the Mainland visitors arriving in Hong Kong, the Government will continue to maintain communication and discuss with relevant Mainland authorities in due course to provide Mainland visitors with more convenient and flexible ways to visit Hong Kong and enriching travel experience to facilitate the vibrant development of tourism-related industries.
 
(2) Member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are Hong Kong’s target source markets. HKTB has been launching various tourism promotions, including launching Announcement in the Public Interest to tie with the Airport Authority Hong Kong and airlines’ distribution of free tickets in source markets last year, as well as co-operating with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and the travel trade on promotion to attract visitors to Hong Kong.
 
     HKTB organised a large-scale ASEAN familiarisation trip in late 2022, receiving nearly 60 trade representatives from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore. It is hoped that they will launch novel tourism products in ASEAN source markets and attract visitors to visit Hong Kong after experiencing Hong Kong’s brand new tourism elements and winter ambience. HKTB invited more than 40 MICE trade representatives from ASEAN to visit Hong Kong in October 2023 to take part in the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival organised by HKTB, as well as to visit the new World of Frozen of the Hong Kong Disneyland, and to try out Hong Kong’s local cafes and cuisines, etc., to promote Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions tourism. HKTB also participated in a number of travel trade shows in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, and organised briefings to promote Hong Kong’s tourism appeals.
 
     Besides, HKTB, together with the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province and the Macau Government Tourist Office, organised the first large-scale overseas promotional campaign for the GBA in Bangkok, Thailand, titled “The Greater Bay Area – Fusion of Exciting Experiences”, which introduced the GBA tourism experience, and launched a new one-stop website for tourism in the GBA, as well as a series of programmes and promotions.
 
     Since cross-boundary tourism has started to resume, the number of visitors from ASEAN member states has recovered to 73 per cent of the average of the same period in 2017 and 2018, higher than the recovery rate of overall visitors in the same period. Among them, visitor arrivals from the Philippines and Thailand recorded a significant growth, and the number of visitor arrivals in November and December, equals to 114 per cent and 104 per cent of the average of the same period in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
 
     The Middle East markets are source markets with significant potential. HKTB will continue its promotional work on various fronts, such as organising briefings to introduce new tourism products to the local travel trade, promoting special tourism offers on travelling to Hong Kong and launching travel packages in collaboration with tourism brands, with a view to attracting visitors from the Middle East to visit Hong Kong.
 
     In the meantime, HKTB has been actively promoting the Muslim source markets and invited media representatives from Muslim regions to come to Hong Kong to visit local “Muslim-friendly” establishments. The Muslim familiarisation trip organised in September let the incoming trade know that Hong Kong welcomes and is suitable for Muslim visitors. In addition, HKTB also consolidated a series of information about Hong Kong on its DiscoverHongKong.com website which catered for Muslim visitors, ranging from cuisine, hotel accommodation, local culture to activities suitable for Muslim visitors, etc., to attract them to visit Hong Kong and enhance their travel experience in Hong Kong.
 
     HKTB will continue its publicity efforts in various aspects to promote Hong Kong’s tourism appeals to the ASEAN and Middle East source markets to attract visitors.
 
(3) The HKSAR Government attaches great importance to the travel experience of visitors arriving in Hong Kong and has been continuously reviewing Hong Kong’s capacity to receive visitors.
 
     Regarding tourist attractions, the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, the Ocean Park, the Peak Tram and the Ngong Ping 360, etc, has launched many new facilities in the past two years. Moreover, various cultural spots including Hong Kong Palace Museum, M+ museum and Hong Kong Museum of Art have been built or renovated, which helped to attract visitors.
 
     On the receiving capacity of hotels, there were currently a total of more than 100 000 rooms offered by hotels and guesthouses, representing an 8 per cent increase when compared with end-December 2018. Besides, the actual average hotel room rate was about HK$1,500 in November, which is similar to the average level in the same period of 2017 and 2018.
 
     Based on the findings of HKTB, the average length of stay of overnight visitors has extended from 3.1 nights before the pandemic to 3.5 nights in the third quarter of 2023. The proportion of overnight visitors has also increased. Over 50 per cent of visitors stayed overnight last year, surpassing the average of 46 per cent of the same period in 2017 and 2018. The proportion for non-Mainland overnight visitors remained at 66 per cent, similar to the average of the same period in 2017 and 2018.
 
     On enhancing service quality, HKTB took the initiative to establish the “Professional Quality Tourism Services Pledge” in July 2023, gathering nearly a hundred representatives and frontline practitioners from tourism-related sectors to pledge on delivering the best experience to visitors. Moreover, HKTB will continue to enhance local service quality and hospitality through the “Quality Tourism Services Scheme” and organise the “Outstanding Quality Tourism Service Merchant and Service Staff Awards” to recognise efforts of high performing merchants and frontline practitioners. HKTB, together with the trade, will gradually organise a series of training videos and promotional activities this year and plans to launch new campaigns to mainly promote courtesy and service quality to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an international tourist destination and to encourage them to provide excellent services to customers.

     Thank you, President. read more

     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) announced today (January 17) that the public online voting stage of the Tropical Cyclone Name Collection Activity organised by the HKO has been successfully concluded. The activity received impressive… read more

     The 35th Meeting of the Expert Group on Energy Data and Analysis (EGEDA35) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is being held in Hong Kong today and tomorrow (January 17 and 18).
 
     Delivering a welcoming speech at the meeting today, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, said that Hong Kong is honoured to host the EGEDA35 to provide a platform for direct dialogue among APEC partners. Over 40 experts and delegates from nine APEC member economies as well as two international organisations are gathered to share insights and exchange experiences on energy data and analysis with their counterparts. Discussion topics of EGEDA35 include updates of the work of the EGEDA on annual data collection, an overview of energy supply and demand in APEC, the progress of APEC goals, and data collection of new energy technologies, etc.
 
     Mr Tse said that APEC economies consume approximately 60 per cent of the world’s energy. As the members continue their speedy recovery from the epidemic and their focus on economic development, energy consumption will continue to increase, leading to an exponential increase in carbon emissions. Thus, there is an imminent need to expedite the energy transition to an environmental-friendly framework to achieve a climate-safe future.
 
     He further said that Hong Kong is striving to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050 and pursue the reduction of Hong Kong’s carbon emissions by 50 per cent before 2035 from the 2005 level. In this connection, Hong Kong is actively engaging new energy technologies in accordance with the major decarbonisation strategies outlining in the Climate Action Plan, such as the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit at the Hong Kong Offshore Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal, district cooling systems, and new energy vehicles, etc to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. Mr Tse also encouraged the use of energy data analyses and modelling tools to provide insightful information on energy trends in driving transition towards a sustainable future.
 
     The Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Eric Pang, shared the latest energy developments in Hong Kong at the meeting today. He thanked APEC member economies for their continued efforts to combat climate change, and stressed that close co-operation must be maintained in order to meet the climate change challenges.
 
     The EGEDA is an expert group under the APEC Energy Working Group, which is responsible for providing policy-relevant energy information to APEC bodies and the wider community through collecting energy data of the APEC region and managing the operation of the APEC energy database. The EGEDA comprises members from the 21 APEC economies and meets once a year. In November 2020, Hong Kong, China hosted the Joint Meeting of EGEDA and APEC Expert Group on Energy Efficiency and Conservation.