3 February 2021
The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (February 3) that the Secretary for Security has made an Amendment Order to revise the call-up programme for persons born in 1962 to 1963 to apply for new smart Hong Kong identity cards (HKICs), and announce the call-up programme for persons born in 1973 to 1976, 2005 to 2007 and 2012 to 2018. The details are as follows:
| Eligible persons | Revised application period |
|---|---|
| Holders of the old form of smart HKIC born in 1962 or 1963 | July 28, 2020 - February 20, 2021 (Revised) |
| Holders of the old form of smart HKIC born in 1973, 1974, 1975 or 1976 | February 22 - July 9, 2021 |
| Holders of the old form of smart HKIC born in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 or 2018 | May 3 - September 18, 2021 |
The Amendment Order will be tabled at the Legislative Council on February 24, 2021, for negative vetting.
To reduce the risk of the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a result of the gathering of crowds, the ImmD again suspended the replacement of HKICs at nine Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres (SIDCCs) under the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise from December 2, 2020, to January 31, 2021. The services of all SIDCCs have been resumed since February 1, 2021. Due to the service suspension of the SIDCCs, some persons born in 1962 or 1963 may have been unable to apply for new HKICs within the application period previously announced.
An ImmD spokesman said, "Having regard to the epidemic situation and the progress of the Replacement Exercise, the Amendment Order extends the period for persons born in 1962 or 1963 to apply for new HKICs and announces the call-up programme for persons born in 1973 to 1976, 2005 to 2007 and 2012 to 2018. The call-up programme for persons born in 1970 to 1972 previously announced remains unchanged, and the application period will last until April 30, 2021."
To avoid the gathering of crowds, the ImmD appeals to applicants who have not previously made appointment bookings to do so via the Internet (www.gov.hk/newicbooking), the ImmD mobile application or the 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2121 1234. Applicants can also pre-fill the application form when making appointment bookings through the Internet or the mobile application to save waiting time.
For details of the Replacement Exercise, please visit the website www.smartid.gov.hk or call the ImmD's enquiry hotline at 2824 6111.