Publications and Press Releases

2 December 2011

The Immigration Department has announced that it will extend by phases its e-Channel service at control points to enrolled Mainland frequent visitors from January 2012 onwards. A Mainland visitor is eligible for enrollment free of charge if he/ she:

1. is aged 18 or above;
2. is the holder of a valid Exit-Entry Permit and one-year multiple exit endorsement for purposes including visiting relatives (Tanqin), individual visit (Geren Luyou) or business visit (Shangwu);
3. has visited Hong Kong three times or more within the 12 months immediately preceding the date of enrollment; and
4. has no adverse record in Hong Kong.

Eligible Mainland visitors may enroll for the e-Channel service free of charge in advance at Enrollment Offices located at control points with effect from December 5, 2011. (Please refer to the table attached for details).

The e-Channel service for Mainland visitors will become available at Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and Lo Wu control points in January 2012. The service will gradually be extended to Shenzhen Bay, China Ferry Terminal, Macau Ferry Terminal and Airport control points before mid 2012. Enrollment and e-Channel services for Mainland visitors will also be available at Man Kam To and Lok Ma Chau control points after improvement works are completed.

"The number of visitors coming to Hong Kong has been on the rise in recent years. We must ensure we have sufficient capacity to meet service demand and strive to improve the quality of our immigration clearance service. There is a need to extend the e-Channel service to more visitors. To ensure effective immigration control while providing a more convenient immigration clearance service to visitors, the Department will ensure the full compliance of enrollment criteria during the enrollment process and conduct spot checks on visitors using e-Channel service at control points," a spokesman said.

For more details, please visit the Immigration Department's website at www.immd.gov.hk or refer to the information leaflets which are available at the Information and Liaison Section, 2/F, Immigration Headquarters; the relevant control points or the Exit-Entry Permit issuing offices in Shenzhen. Visitors may also call the department hotline at (852) 2824 6111 or send an email to enquiry@immd.gov.hk for further information.

Table