New Hong Kong ID cards to be rolled out from late December
- Law enforcement and government officials will be first to exchange their old cards for new ones, followed by card holders born in 1985 and 1986
- Appointments can be made online or by smartphone, with cards registered and delivered at automated kiosks
About 8.8 million Hong Kong residents will have their identity cards replaced with new smart ones from December 27, the immigration authority announced on Thursday.
The replacement will be carried out in phases, with law enforcement and government officials being called up first.
The next round will see residents born in 1985 or 1986 have their cards replaced between January 21 and March 30 next year. They were the first group to receive the existing cards during the last replacement exercise in 2003 – meaning their cards are the most vulnerable.
Residents can make an appointment online and fill in the form in advance from October 29.
The replacement programme is expected to be completed in four years. Card holders will be called according to their year of birth.
The Immigration Department warned those who failed to show up within the designated period without a valid reason would be deemed to be breaking the law, risking a maximum fine of HK$5,000 (US$638).