SAR ID cards to cost $2.5m

Identity cards with the new SAR emblem to be used by government workers will cost taxpayers about $2.5 million.

Those in need of proof of identity on a daily basis will be issued with either Departmental Warrant Cards or Government Identity Cards.

A total of 32,000 warrant cards and 110,000 identity cards will be issued by next March.

The cards will be printed on security paper with an SAR emblem watermark.

Five law enforcement agencies have already issued their own warrant cards, printed in red and black - the police, Customs, fire services, immigration and the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

About 20,000 warrant cards and 30,000 identity cards have been issued.