I. Birth Certificate
The Hong Kong Birth Registration Certificate, commonly known as a birth certificate, is the official birth document issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department to infants born in Hong Kong.
According to the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance (Cap. 174 of the Laws of Hong Kong), birth registration for an infant can be completed free of charge at a birth registry within the district of birth within 42 days of the birth (though a fee applies for obtaining a certified copy of the birth certificate). Otherwise, a statutory fee is required for registrations made after 42 days (e.g., if registered after 42 days but within 1 year of birth, a registration fee of HK$140 is required. If registered after 1 year, the fee is HK$680). If the infant was born before arriving at a hospital or clinic, or if a late registration application is required, the registration should be handled at the Births and Deaths General Register Office.
The birth registration certificate serves as a historical record of an individual (the content on the certificate cannot be altered) and identifies their status upon entering the world. Parents of the infant can obtain a certified copy of the birth certificate, rather than the original, as the original is kept by the Immigration Department for future reference or re-issuance.
The current standard format for Hong Kong birth registration certificates was first used for infants born in late 1995. Compared to previous versions, it is relatively longer, uses handwritten records (except for the infant's and parents' names, which are indicated in Chinese, other fields are in English), and features the colonial-era emblem at the top of the page. (The birth certificate is a very important document for Hong Kong residents, often required for document renewal, school registration, studying abroad, etc.)
II. Re-entry Permit
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Re-entry Permit of the People's Republic of China is issued to Chinese Hong Kong residents who have obtained the right of abode or have been granted permission to reside in Hong Kong without conditions, or to non-Chinese Hong Kong residents who have been granted permission to reside in Hong Kong without conditions but are unable to obtain a passport or travel document from any other region, for the purpose of traveling between mainland China and Macau.
Re-entry permits are divided into single-journey and multi-journey types. The "single-journey" permit looks like a ticket, while the "multi-journey" permit is a red booklet. Before the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong, the cover of the "multi-journey" permit featured the Hong Kong colonial emblem. The "multi-journey" permit is valid for up to five years, while the "single-journey" permit is valid for up to six months and is valid for only one entry and exit. Generally, only Hong Kong permanent residents under the age of 11 and those who need to replace their identity card due to renewal or loss need to apply for a re-entry permit.
III. Hong Kong Identity Card
Permanent Identity Card
The Hong Kong Identity Card is issued by the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and serves as the primary identity document for Hong Kong residents.
The Registration of Persons Ordinance (Cap. 177 of the Laws of Hong Kong) stipulates that anyone aged 11 or over or who has stayed in Hong Kong for more than 180 days must register for an identity card within 30 days of reaching the age of 11 or arriving in Hong Kong. Each Hong Kong identity card contains the holder's name, date of birth, and other personal information, with a black-and-white photo of the holder printed on it. Below the name field, a Chinese telegraph code is also printed to facilitate the input of names by government or other institutions. Hong Kong identity cards are divided into two categories: "Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card" and "Hong Kong Identity Card". Identity cards issued to persons under 18 are also known as child identity cards, and those who reach the age of 18 must replace them with an adult identity card within 30 days of their 18th birthday.
Hong Kong permanent residents aged 11 or over holding a Hong Kong identity card only need to present their identity card when entering or leaving Hong Kong, without the need to fill out an "Arrival/Departure Card" to pass through customs. Generally, only Hong Kong permanent residents under the age of 11 need to apply, as they may not possess a child identity card, and the re-entry permit is only used when entering or leaving Hong Kong to further prove their status as Hong Kong permanent residents. If a child under 11 possesses a child identity card and a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport (or a passport of another nationality), they only need to present their passport and child identity card when entering or leaving Hong Kong and Macau, and do not need to apply for a re-entry permit.
If a holder of a Hong Kong permanent identity card needs to replace it due to renewal or loss, the Immigration Department will issue an "Acknowledgment of Application for a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card" before the new card is issued. This receipt functions as a temporary identity card but cannot be used for entering or leaving Hong Kong and Macau. If the person does not have a Hong Kong SAR passport and needs to travel to mainland China or Macau, they must apply for a re-entry permit.
If the holder of an "Acknowledgment of Application for a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card" possesses a Hong Kong SAR passport, they only need to present their passport and the receipt when entering or leaving Hong Kong and Macau, and do not need to apply for a re-entry permit. (The document is valid for five years)
The Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card is an identity card issued by the Immigration Department to persons who have the right of abode in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card is commonly known as "three stars" because the permanent identity card they hold is marked with "***". In fact, the meaning of this mark has no direct relationship with whether the holder has the right of abode in Hong Kong; it only indicates that the holder is 18 years of age or older and is eligible to apply for a Hong Kong SAR re-entry permit (however, on the first-generation computer identity cards issued between 1983 and 1987, the "three stars" mark (18 years or older) or the "one star" mark (11 to 17 years old) did indeed indicate that the holder had the right of abode in Hong Kong).
Hong Kong permanent residents only need to present their identity card when entering or leaving Hong Kong, without the need to fill out an "Arrival/Departure Card" to pass through customs. Article 2A of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115 of the Laws of Hong Kong) stipulates that Hong Kong permanent residents, subject to the provisions of Article 2AA(2), have the following rights:
To enter Hong Kong;
Not to have any conditions of stay imposed on them in Hong Kong, and any conditions of stay imposed on them shall be void;
No deportation order shall be issued against them; no removal order shall be issued against them.
If a holder of a Hong Kong permanent identity card needs to replace it due to renewal or loss, the Immigration Department will issue an "Acknowledgment of Application for a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card" before the new card is issued. This receipt functions as a temporary identity card but cannot be used for entry or exit. When entering or leaving, one must hold a Hong Kong SAR re-entry permit or a valid travel document (e.g., Hong Kong SAR passport, British National (Overseas) passport, etc.)
Identity card for residents without the right of abode
The Hong Kong Identity Card is an identity card issued by the Immigration Department to persons who do not have the right of abode in Hong Kong.
IV. Passport
2007 Edition Electronic Passport
Issuing Authority—Hong Kong Immigration Department
Document Type: Passport
Issued to: Hong Kong permanent residents with the nationality of the People's Republic of China
Validity: 10 years (16 years and older)
5 years (under 16 years old)
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport of the People's Republic of China is a passport of the People's Republic of China issued by the Hong Kong government to Chinese citizens who are Hong Kong permanent residents, as authorized by the Central People's Government in accordance with Article 154 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.
Chinese citizens who are Hong Kong permanent residents are eligible to apply for a Hong Kong SAR passport, regardless of whether they hold foreign travel documents. The passport is issued by the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong SAR government, and Chinese diplomatic and consular missions abroad can process Hong Kong SAR passport applications for citizens traveling abroad. The passport is generally valid for 10 years, while the passport for children under 16 is valid for 5 years. The Hong Kong SAR passport is valid worldwide [citation needed], and 147 countries/territories grant visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to Hong Kong Chinese citizens [1]. The Hong Kong SAR passport can also be used as a substitute for the Hong Kong permanent identity card for entering and leaving the Hong Kong SAR.
Although the Registration of Persons Ordinance (Cap. 177 of the Laws of Hong Kong) stipulates that persons under 11 years of age do not need to register for an identity card, based on the aforementioned "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passports Ordinance", children under 11 who do not hold a Hong Kong permanent identity card must apply for a Hong Kong permanent identity card at the same time when applying for a Hong Kong SAR passport.
Applicants can submit their Hong Kong passport application by mail, drop-in, or in person at the Immigration Department. Applicants residing overseas can submit their applications through local Chinese embassies or consulates. The processing of applications and the printing of passport personal data are handled centrally by the Immigration Department. From December 22, 2007, eligible adult applicants aged 18 or over, whether in Hong Kong or overseas, can submit passport applications online. However, if a passport is lost or damaged, the replacement application must be submitted in person.
VI: Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents
Front of the "Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents"
The Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents, commonly known as the Home Return Permit, is issued by the Exit and Entry Administration of the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China and is the document used by Hong Kong and Macau residents to enter and exit mainland China as Chinese citizens. The predecessor of the permit was the "Home Return Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Compatriots". It is processed at the "China Travel Service".
Note: The above information is sourced from the internet; please consult relevant institutions for specific details.
