More than two million holders of smart identity cards are expected to enjoy faster immigration clearance by Christmas when an automated system is installed at border checkpoints. The 30,000 truck drivers who cross the border daily are also expected to benefit from an automated vehicle-clearance system to be introduced before the end of the year. Assistant Director of Immigration Raymond Wong Wai-man yesterday unveiled the winning designs for the automated systems proposed by local company ATAL Technologies, which won the $190 million contract in an open tender. Mr Wong said suggestions from the public would be welcomed on the final design of the two systems. They are expected to enable the checkpoints to handle at least 50 per cent more passengers and vehicles and preclude the need for 217 immigration officers. He said the aim was to start installing the two automated systems at checkpoints like Lowu and the airport before Christmas, allowing the more than two million permanent residents who will hold smart ID cards at that stage to use the new technology. The automated system for vehicles will require drivers who have already registered their personal and vehicle data with the Immigration Department to undergo a two-second fingerprint scan, compared with the current average of 15 seconds required to complete clearance. Travellers will also be able to complete the automated clearance procedure within a few seconds, compared with the current average of 14 seconds.