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About
Smart Identity Card
Q:
What is a smart identity card?
A: With
effect from 23 June 2003, the Government of the HKSAR starts
to issue a new generation of identity cards in the form of
smart cards. The new smart identity card bears the following
characteristics:
- The
new identity card takes the form of a smart card with the
size of a standard credit card;
- The
card is produced by polycarbonate, a durable and secure
base material with strong resistance to environmental influences
as well as mechanical, chemical and thermal stress;
- The
card is embedded with an integrated circuit, or a "chip"
which has the capacity of storing and processing data. (Back
to top)
Q: What does a smart identity card look like?
A:
 |
 |
| The
front of a smart ID card |
The
back of a smart ID card |
(Back
to top)
Q: What are the meanings of the symbols on the face of a smart
identity card?
| Symbol |
Descriptions |
| *** |
the
holder is of the age of 18 or over and is eligible for
a Hong Kong Re-entry Permit. |
| * |
the
holder is between the age of 11 and 17 and is eligible
for a Hong Kong Re-entry Permit. |
| A |
the
holder has the right of abode in the HKSAR. |
| C |
the
holder's stay in the HKSAR is limited by the Director
of Immigration at the time of his registration of the
card. |
| R |
the
holder has a right to land in the HKSAR. |
| U |
the holder's stay in the HKSAR is not limited by the Director
of Immigration at the time of his registration of the
card. |
| Z |
the
holder's place of birth reported is Hong Kong. |
| X |
the
holder's place of birth reported is the Mainland. |
| W |
the
holder's place of birth reported is the region of Macau.
|
| O |
the
holder's place of birth reported is in other countries.
|
| B |
the
holder's reported date of birth or place of birth has
been changed since his/ her first registration. |
| N |
the
holder's reported name has been changed since his/ her
first registration. |
| Note: |
The
check digit in brackets is not part of the identity card
number. It is only for facilitating computer data processing. |
(Back to top)
Q: What kinds of data are stored in the chip of a smart identity
card?
A: Please
click here.
(Back to top)
Q: What are the benefits of using a smart identity card?
A: The
benefits of using a smart identity card are
- High
security - data engraved into different layers of the card
and held in the chip can prevent lost or stolen identity
cards from being altered or used by other people;
- Greater
convenience - with the capacity of multi-applications, such
as e-Certificate and library card function, the smart identity
card holder can benefit from the convenience of using one
card for various functions;
- Quality
service - the issue of smart identity card helps establish
the foundation of the delivery of electronic government
services. In the near future, smart identity card holders
may enjoy various kinds of public services simply by going
on-line at home or making use of the self-service kiosks
without attending Government offices in person;
- Faster
travel - with the thumbprint templates stored in the chip
of the identity card, it paves the way for the implementation
of the Automated Passenger Clearance System in December
2004 and Automated Vehicle Clearance System in April 2005.
Through which, the queuing time at control points will be
reduced.(Back to top)
Q: What are the functions of the smart identity card readers
installed at the immigration self-service kiosks?
A: Holders
of smart identity card may use the smart identity card readers
installed at the immigration
self-service kiosks to:
- view
the personal data stored in the chip of the smart identity
card
- view
the content and change the PIN of the Hongkong Post Certification Authority e-Cert
(if the holder has opted for one)
- update
the condition of stay or limit of stay (if the holder is
a Hong Kong resident with condition of stay)
No fee
is levied for using the smart identity card readers installed
at the immigration self-service
kiosks.(Back to top)
About
the HK Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise
Q: Which call-up phases have been called?
A: Please
click here.(Back
to top)
Q: What is the consequence if failing to apply for a new card?
A: Please
click here.(Back
to top)
Q: What kinds of documents have to be brought for application?
A: Please
click here.(Back
to top)
Q:
What to do if you have missed your specified call-up periods
and have not replaced your identity card?
A: With
the completion of the Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise
on 31 March 2007, Smart Identity Card Centres have ceased
to accept applications for smart identity cards. Starting
from 2 April 2007, persons who have missed their specified
call-up periods and have not replaced their old identity cards
should make their applications at any of the Registration
of Persons Offices.(Back to top)
Q: Where to collect your new identity card after closure of
the Smart Identity Card Centres?
A: Starting
from 21 May 2007, applicants who made application at Smart
Identity Card Centres but have not yet collected their new
identity cards should collect their identity cards at a designated
Registration of Persons Office. To view the collection arrangement,
please click here.
(Back to top)
Q: What to do if you are unable to collect your new identity
card by yourself?
A: Please
click here.(Back
to top)
Q: What to do if you are outside Hong Kong during the specified
call-up period?
A: Please
click here.(Back
to top)
Q: Who may be exempted from registration?
A: Please
click here.(Back
to top)
Q: The Replacement Exercise does not include persons born
in 1986 to 1989 or 1993 to 1996. When should they apply for
the smart identity cards?
A: Persons
born in 1986 to 1989 should apply at the Registration of Persons
Offices for an adult identity card when they attain the age
of 18. For persons born in 1993 to 1996, they should apply
at the Registration of Persons Offices for a juvenile identity
card when they attain the age of 11. (Back
to top)
Applications
on Smart ID Card
Q:
What value-added applications are provided by the smart ID
card?
A: Apart
from being an identification document, the smart ID card offers
you the option of e-Cert, issued by the Hongkong Post Certification
Authority. It also lets you use it to access services at public
libraries. Starting from December 2004, you may use the card
to enjoy the convenience of automated passenger clearance
facilities at immigration control points. (Back
to top)
Q:
Can you add your own applications into the smart ID card?
A: Currently,
you can only opt to store the Hongkong Post Certification
Authority personal e-Cert into the smart ID card and choose
whether to use it as library card. You are not allowed to
put your own applications into the smart ID card.(Back
to top)
Q:
Can you remove applications from the smart ID card? If so,
how is it done?
A: At
present, only the optional e-Cert application necessitates
the storage of non-immigration data on the card. The library
card application does not entail the incorporation of such
data. If you want to remove the e-Cert application after it
has been installed, you may visit any of the 20 designated
Hongkong Post offices to complete the required formalities.
If you want to
apply
to discontinue using the smart ID card for library services,
you may complete
and submit an application form at any public library or through
the Internet.
(Back
to top)
Q:
Can the card carry digital certificates other than those issued
by Hongkong Post Certification Authority?
A: Under
the current policy, only the personal e-Cert issued by Hongkong
Post Certification Authority can be loaded on the card.(Back
to top)
Q:
Is there any room in the smart ID card to accommodate other
value-added applications?
A: The
chip in the smart ID card has capacity reserved for other
value-added applications, such as e-Purse, to be added later.(Back
to top)
Q:
When will the Government launch the e-Purse application?
A: There
is no timetable for the e-Purse application. According to
the Monetary Authority, however, now is still not the right
time to launch the e-Purse application.(Back
to top)
Q:
Can the smart ID card carry organ donation
information?
A: The
Legislative Council has raised questions on embedding
organ donation information into the smart ID card in June
2004. The Government has provided response. In brief, this
proposal has to be considered in terms of its effectiveness
in promoting organ donation, the legal requirements involved
as well as the technical and administrative feasibility. For
details, please click here.(Back
to top)
e-Cert
Q:
How do you use the e-Cert?
A: You
can use the e-Cert on your ID card via any public or personal
computers equipped with a suitable smart card reader. With
your e-Cert, you can perform various e-business transactions.
These include e-mail encryption; online entertainment, stock
trading, payment; or e-banking, among others. In order to
initiate an e-business session, all you have to do is insert
your smart ID card into a card reader and input your e-Cert
PIN to activate it. (Back to top)
Q:
Why must an applicant for e-Cert complete the identity verification
process in person at a post office?
A: e-Cert
offers a safe and secure way to conduct online transactions.
In processing an e-Cert application, Hongkong Post Certification
Authority is required to verify the identity of the applicant.
As a procedural safeguard in the interest of the applicant,
it is necessary for the applicant to visit a post office to
complete the face-to-face identity verification process for
delivery of the PIN envelope and issue of the e-Cert. (Back
to top)
Q:
Can an applicant visit any of the designated post offices
during lunch break, over weekend or on Sunday to complete
the application process for e-Cert on smart ID card?
A: Yes.
The 20 designated post offices stay open during lunch hours.
As for the General Post Office at Central and the Tsim Sha
Tsui Post Office, public services are available on Saturday
afternoons and on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Details
about the opening hours of the 20 designated post offices
can be found on Hongkong
Post Certification Authority’s website. (Back
to top)
Q:
Is it a proper arrangement for Hongkong Post Certification
Authority to deliver the e-Cert floppy disk to an applicant
by post?
A: Hongkong
Post Certification Authority always places emphasis on the
security aspects of e-Cert. Delivering the e-Cert floppy disk
by post is to save an applicant from making an additional
visit to the post office to collect the e-Cert floppy disk
As a security measure, the e-Cert floppy disk is sent by recorded
delivery which requires the applicant to sign for receipt.
Furthermore, the use of an e-Cert requires a PIN, which is
given to the applicant at the time of application. (Back
to top)
Q:
Can e-Cert be used on computers running Linux or Mac operating
systems?
A: e-Cert
(stored on a smart ID card or a floppy disk) can be used on
the Windows operating systems. Using the e-Cert on a smart
ID card on Windows systems requires a smart
card reader and the e-Cert
Control Manager software. e-Cert stored on a smart ID
card cannot be used on Linux and Mac operating systems. The
use of e-Cert stored on a floppy disk on Linux and Mac operating
systems requires installation of additional software. You
may contact the respective vendors of the Linux and Mac systems
for details. (Back to top)
Q:
How many e-Certs can be stored in a smart ID card?
A: Each
smart ID card can store one active e-Cert with its corresponding
key pair. Whenever you load a new e-Cert to your smart ID
card, the existing e-Cert on the ID card will be replaced
while its corresponding private key may continue to reside
on the card. Each smart ID card can store three old private
keys while the corresponding e-Cert(s) may be stored in your
computer or a floppy disk. (Back to top)
Q:
For how long is the Hongkong Post Certification Authority
e-Cert on smart ID card valid?
A: Hongkong
Post Certification Authority e-Cert on smart ID card is valid
for three years. (Back to top)
Q:
Where can you check the information of the e-Cert on your
smart ID card if you do not have smart card reader at home?
A: You
may check the information of your e-Cert at Government kiosks
with smart card readers installed at various premises as follows:
Q:
What should you do if you lost your smart ID card with e-Cert
or accidentally deleted e-Cert?
A: You
should report loss of your smart ID card to the Immigration
Department at one of their Registration of Persons Offices.
You may also request Hongkong Post Certification Authority
to revoke your e-Cert by submitting a revocation request at
www.hongkongpost.gov.hk.
If you have purchased a backup e-Cert floppy disk when you
apply for the e-Cert on smart ID card and you decide not to
revoke your e-Cert, you can continue using your e-Cert on
the floppy disk. If you do not have a backup e-Cert floppy
disk, you may apply for a new e-Cert but you have to pay the
prescribed subscription fee. (Back to top)
Q:
How can you prevent others from accessing the e-Cert information
on your smart ID card? Would your information be leaked to
others if you lost your smart ID card?
A: You
should keep your smart ID card in safe custody and not to
disclose the e-Cert PIN (Personal Identification Number) to
other persons. In case you lose your ID card but your e-Cert
PIN is not known to anyone other than yourself, others should
not be able to access your e-Cert even they hold your smart
ID card. (Back to top)
Q:
What is the benefit of using e-Cert on smart ID card in Internet
banking?
A: e-Cert
on smart ID card is a readily available two-factor authentication
tool. It can strengthen Internet banking security by implementing
two-factor authentication and protect bank customers from
Internet banking frauds. Two-factor authentication is a security
measure that requires two forms of authentication to access
a system. For e-Cert on smart ID card, the two forms are (i)
smart ID card (something you have); and (ii) e-Cert password
(something you know). (Back to top)
Security
Q:
Is the smart ID card secure?
A: A very
secure base material (polycarbonate) is used as the card body
and laser engraving technology is adopted to prevent the card
face data from being altered. Data in the chip cannot be read
nor altered by unauthorised persons who do not have the necessary
access keys. (Back to top)
Q:
Are the personal data in the card well protected?
A: With
advanced security features and sophisticated cryptographic
technology, the personal data in the chip are well protected
from unauthorised access. The data are protected with strong
partitions and different access keys. The smart ID card will
authenticate the devices with which it interacts, thus prohibiting
unauthorised parties from accessing the data. (Back
to top)
Q:
What security features are included in the smart ID card?
A: To
combat forgery, a combination of sophisticated security features
are applied on the smart identity card. The most visible security
feature is the triangle printed with optical variable ink
beside the chip of the smart ID card. Its colour changes between
reddish gold and green when viewed at different angles. On
the lower left corner of the ID card, there are multiple laser
images of the card holder’s photograph and identity
card number. They will appear alternatively when viewed at
tilted angles. On the left of the multiple laser images, there
is Kineprint - a red letter “H” or a black letter
“K” will emerge alternatively when viewed at titlted
angles. You may click here
or more information on the security features included in the
card.(Back to top)
Q:
Will the personal data stored in the card be shared among
government departments?
A: Personal
data will not be shared among government departments without
the explicit consent of residents. Data protection principles
set out in the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance and relevant
legislation will be strictly observed and adhered to. (Back
to top)
Smart
Card Reader
Q:
To access the e-Cert on the smart ID card, is it true that
a card reader has to be installed?
A: To
enable the access to the e-Cert on the card, computers should
be equipped with a suitable smart card reader. Please refer
to the relevant information on smart
card reader in this site. In addition to a smart card
reader, an Application Program Interface (API) provided by
the Hongkong Post Certification Authority should also be installed
in the computer. Please click here
for more information on the software. (Back
to top)
Q:
Why is landing type card reader recommended?
A: A card
reader of the landing type is recommended because, compared
with the friction type, it facilitates softer contact with
the chip and in doing so, provides better protection. (Back
to top)
Q:
What features of a smart card reader you may consider in buying
a reader?
A: You
may refer to the suggested mandatory and desirable features
of smart card reader in
this website. In addition, you may consider the following
features based on your own needs. A quality reader would protect
both the chip and the card face of your new smart ID card
from being scratched.
| Connectivity
with computer |
The
peripheral interfaces for connecting card reader to computer.
The commonly available interfaces are RS-232, PS/2, PCMCIA
Type II and USB. The type of interface required depends
on the port available in the computer. |
| Protocols |
The
mode of data transmission. T=0 is the byte mode transmission
protocol and T=1 is the block mode transmission protocol.
Most readers support the protocols of both T=0 and T=1. |
| Status
indicator |
An
indicator, usually in the form of a LED or a LCD, to show
the operation status, e.g. power on / power off; successful
/ unsuccessful operation, of the reader. It facilitates
the operation of the reader and is useful for problem
diagnosis. |
| Insertion
cycle |
The
minimum number of card insertion for which the reader
can function normally. Most readers support 100,000 or
more cycles of card insertion. |
(Back
to top)
Public
Facilities for Using the Smart ID Card
Q:
Where are the public facilities installed with smart card
readers?
A: You
can read your own personal data stored in the card at the
self-service kiosks of the
Immigration Department at the Registration of Persons Offices,
the Immigration Headquarters and the Immigration Control Points.
Furthermore, public computers are installed with a smart card
reader. If your ID card has an e-Cert included, you can use
your e-Cert at public computers to perform e-government and
e-commerce transactions. More than 200 public computers are
equipped with card readers to facilitate the use of the e-Cert
stored in the smart ID Card. These public computers are provided
at about 100 different locations such as public
libraries and Hongkong Post offices. (Back
to top)
Library
Card
Q:
If a cardholder applies to have the library card function
included on a smart ID card, is it necessary to surrender
the existing library card to the Hong Kong Public Library?
A: No,
the applicant may keep and continue using the existing card.
However, any applicant not wanting to keep the existing library
card can apply to have the card nullified at any Hong Kong
Public Library. (Back to top)
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