City agrees quick immigration deal with Germany

Germany is to become the first European country and the second worldwide to allow Hongkongers to use its automated immigration clearance system at airports, beginning next month.

Germans will be able to use the Hong Kong e-Channel system from November, Hong Kong Immigration said in announcing the agreement yesterday.

The deal is expected to cut immigration processing times for visitors from 60 seconds to 30 seconds, said Corrado Chow, assistant director of information systems for Hong Kong's Immigration Department.

"Hong Kong has actually been in talks with many countries with automated immigration systems to discuss the possibility of similar services," Chow said. "It's just that with Germany, everyone was on the same wavelength and they were extremely efficient."

Like a similar arrangement with South Korea, launched last year, the automated clearance deal with Germany came at "literally zero extra cost", Chow added. He expressed hope that the deal would help improve links with Europe's biggest economies, adding that while cooperation with any country was welcome, the emphasis would be on those with strong economic ties and travel connections.

Under the arrangement, anyone over the age of 18 with an electronic passport issued by Hong Kong can register to use the EasyPASS automated clearance system by visiting Frankfurt Airport. After registering, they can use electronic channels at Munich, Dusseldorf and Hamburg, as well as Frankfurt, for as long as their passport is valid. Registration is voluntary and free.