Recently, the Hong Kong Immigration Department issued a notice "reminding citizens to replace their new smart identity cards": The "Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise" (Replacement Exercise) has entered its final stage, and all eligible holders of old smart identity cards (i.e., identity cards issued between June 23, 2003, and November 24, 2018) have been invited to replace their cards.
The Immigration Department (ImmD) reminds those who have missed the specified replacement period and have not yet replaced their new smart identity cards to bring their identity cards and visit any Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre (Replacement Centre) in person to complete the replacement procedures as soon as possible.
The ImmD has announced that the last date for identity card replacement applications at all Replacement Centres is February 11, 2023. After this date, the Replacement Centres will no longer accept replacement applications, while the collection service at the Replacement Centres will continue until March 3, 2023. The service hours for all Replacement Centres are from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Monday to Saturday (excluding public holidays).
The Replacement Exercise is intended for all Hong Kong citizens. Whether they are permanent residents or non-permanent residents permitted to work, invest, reside, or study in Hong Kong, they must visit a Replacement Centre to complete the replacement procedures within the specified period. However, eligible Hong Kong citizens who are unable to replace their new identity cards within the specified period due to being outside of Hong Kong do not need to rush back to Hong Kong to replace their cards before the end of the Replacement Exercise; they may complete the replacement procedures within 30 days after returning to Hong Kong.
To reduce crowd gathering, the ImmD appeals to applicants to use the ImmD mobile application, visit the website www.gov.hk/newicbooking, or call the 24-hour telephone appointment booking hotline at (852) 2121 1234 to schedule an appointment for the replacement procedures. The ImmD also encourages applicants to fill out the form in advance when using the mobile application or online booking to facilitate a faster replacement process.
Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres (Replacement Centres)
The office hours for all Replacement Centres are from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Monday to Saturday (excluding public holidays). The addresses are as follows:
According to the notice, for Hong Kong immigrants currently in the Mainland, there is no need to worry if they fail to replace their new identity cards within the deadline. Even if the specified deadline has passed upon returning to Hong Kong, they only need to visit any Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre within 30 days of their return to complete the procedures.
Hong Kong has long been a place where Eastern and Western cultures converge and an internationally renowned financial center, with its economic freedom ranking among the highest in the world. At the same time, due to its cultural proximity to the Mainland, shared language, and low tax rates, Hong Kong attracts an increasing number of Mainland individuals to live and develop their careers. Possessing a Hong Kong identity has also become a popular choice for many investors in their life planning.
As one of the convenient pathways to quickly obtain a Hong Kong identity, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme has been highly popular among immigration applicants since its launch in 2006, with its quota increasing from 1,000 to 2,000, and then to 4,000. On October 19, 2022, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, John Lee, pointed out in the "2022 Policy Address" that starting from January 1, 2023, the annual quota for the "Quality Migrant Admission Scheme" will be lifted for a period of two years. At the same time, the approval process will be optimized to attract more world-class talent to Hong Kong. This is undoubtedly great news for investors.
If you also have the intention to develop your career in Hong Kong, please do not hesitate any longer; now is the perfect time to immigrate to Hong Kong through the Hong Kong "Quality Migrant Admission Scheme." Visas Consulting Group reminds those who wish to obtain a Hong Kong identity to seize the time to submit their applications and grasp this golden opportunity! Those interested in applying for the Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme can undergo a professional assessment!
Currently, by obtaining a Hong Kong identity through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, as long as the applicant meets the requirements, there is no need to make any capital investment, no need to have secured an offer of local employment beforehand, and one can freely choose to work or reside upon arrival in Hong Kong; one application allows the whole family to be approved quickly; children can enjoy Hong Kong's free bilingual education; after obtaining permanent resident status in Hong Kong, children can participate in the Joint Entrance Examination for Universities in China for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese Students, making it easier to enter prestigious domestic universities or study abroad, which can be said to have multiple advantages!
Visas Consulting Group, one of the Top 500 Asian Brands, has been focusing on investment immigration for over 20 years. As one of the earlier companies to engage in Hong Kong immigration services, it has established professional companies in both Hong Kong and the Mainland and has successfully helped countless clients immigrate to Hong Kong. Visas Consulting Group possesses an industry-leading project analysis team, a professional documentation team, and a comprehensive customer service team, providing you with end-to-end support from material submission to post-immigration services, helping you realize your Hong Kong dream.
For more details on obtaining a Hong Kong identity, please send us a private message in the comments section or call the Visas Consulting Group service hotline: Mainland China: 400-138-2929, Hong Kong: (852) 2802 8798.
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