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Christy Leung

Australia is allowing Hongkongers to use its automated immigration clearance system at all its international airports from Monday without requiring prior registration.
Also effective Monday, Australians visiting Hong Kong are able to use an e-channel system, but they need to register in the city upon arrival, local immigration officials said.
Raymond Lok Wai-man, assistant director for information systems at the Immigration Department, said face recognition technology used by its Australian counterpart meant that Hongkongers did not need to register before travelling Down Under.
Australia to trial new China visa rules to boost tourism
Hong Kong has signed immigration deals with Australia, Germany, Singapore and South Korea to streamline travel. Australia is the first of the four countries not to require Hongkongers to register before using the automated clearance system.
“The chip in the passports contains the holders’ details,” Lok said, noting that many countries were using the technology.
“But Hong Kong authorities rely on fingerprint technology. We need to confirm passport holders’ identity to see if they fulfil immigration requirements before using our fast lane.”

Hong Kong is Australia’s 10th biggest tourism market with most visitors arriving either for a holiday or to visit relatives. Last year, some 230,000 Hongkongers visited Australia, while 590,000 Aussies travelled to the city over the same period.
Lok hoped the new measures would allow greater convenience for travellers from both Hong Kong and Australia, citing the country’s strong economics ties to the city and its popularity among locals.
From Monday, valid Hong Kong electronic passport holders aged 16 or older who have no adverse record in Australia were eligible to use the SmartGate service at international airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, the Gold Coast and Perth upon arrival.
A ticket is issued upon entering the SmartGate service at an Australian immigration kiosk.

Visitors then are to proceed for facial identity verification, and must return the ticket and a completed arrival card to immigration staff to complete the arrival process.
One’s passport need not be presented further, so no arrival stamp must be affixed to it.
Lok could not estimate how many seconds faster the new procedures would be compared to the traditional counter service.
In addition, when departing Australia, Hong Kong passport holders who stand over 120 cm tall can use the SmartGate service at the country’s international airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin, the Gold Coast and Perth.
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Australian consul general Paul Tighe said the automated clearance services would enable Hong Kong travellers to move through border clearance more quickly and effectively.
“This also means our Border Force officers can focus on detecting unlawful activity at the border,” said Tighe.
Valid Hong Kong passport holders are allowed to stay in Australia for 90 days. But prior to arriving in Australia, they need to apply for a document called an Electronic Travel ­Authority.
Australians are allowed to stay in Hong Kong visa-free for the same period – 90 days.


Hongkongers visiting Australia now eligible for automated immigration clearance

For first time, city’s travellers don’t need to register in advance to use country’s electronic channels

Hong Kong Immigration Department Assistant Director(Information System) Raymond Lok Wai-man introduces the mutual use of e-channel with the 4th country at a press conference at the Immigration Tower in Wan Chai. 20JUN16 SCMP/ Edward Wong

Raymond Lok Wai-man of the Immigration Department explaining the new arrangements in Wan Chai. Photo: Edward Wong

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

For first time, city’s travellers don’t need to register in advance to use country’s electronic channels


Hongkongers visiting Australia now eligible for automated immigration clearance

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}For first time, city’s travellers don’t need to register in advance to use country’s electronic channels

For first time, city’s travellers don’t need to register in advance to use country’s electronic channels