​The Immigration Department (ImmD) spokesman said today (February 1) that recently a large number of residents have approached the Registration of Persons Offices (ROP Offices) and Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres (SIDCCs) for identity card services without making appointments. The ImmD reminds residents to make appointments for applications before proceeding to ROP Offices or SIDCCs which, to ensure residents could apply for identity cards in a smooth and orderly manner, will not handle applications without appointments. For applicants without an appointment but have an urgent need to replace their identity cards which have been lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced, the ROP Offices will offer assistance based on individual circumstances.

     Members of the public can make an appointment via the ImmD mobile application, the Internet or the 24-hour telephone booking hotlines (see Annex I). Residents may scan the QR codes (see Annex II) to download the ImmD mobile application or make an appointment for identity card application via the Internet. The ImmD appeals to applicants to pre-fill the application form when making appointments through the mobile application or the Internet for faster procedures.

     Hong Kong residents who cannot have their identity cards replaced due to their absence from Hong Kong can apply for a replacement within 30 days upon their return to Hong Kong and need not rush back to replace their identity card, whether the replacement is required under the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise at the SIDCCs or due to the reaching of 11 or 18 years of age at the ROP Offices. Residents staying in Hong Kong for less than 30 days upon their return will not infringe the relevant laws because of failing to apply for replacement of their identity cards during that period of stay.

Ends/Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Issued at HKT 12:25

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