Face-recognition system for visitors to be used at border control
Automated border clearance revamp to include new system to speed up processing times at control points, says Immigration Department
The Immigration Department plans to introduce a face-recognition system in addition to fingerprint-checking currently used for incoming travellers using e-channels, according to a document submitted to the Legislative Council's security panel.
It is part of the department's plan to revamp its information technology infrastructure at the city's control points.
The department also plans to consolidate and merge several control point systems - such as a system that provides self-service immigration clearance for vehicle drivers and a closed-circuit television system into an integrated control point system.
The document says that the department completed a feasibility study on the proposed changes in July.
"Face-recognition technology has reached high maturity and accuracy and is widely adopted in other advanced countries for automated border clearance purpose," it says.
These countries include Australia, Portugal, Germany and Britain.
The department estimates that over 60 per cent of travellers will be holding electronic travel documents by 2016, and that this will gradually increase to over 90 per cent in 2020.