Control Branch

Under the command of an Assistant Director, the Control Branch comprises the Airport Division, the Border (Rail) Division, the Border (Vehicles) Division and the Harbour Division. The Airport Division and the Border (Rail) Division are each headed by a Senior Principal Immigration Officer while the Border (Vehicles) Division and the Harbour Division are each headed by a Principal Immigration Officer. The divisions share responsibilities in maintaining immigration control by denying entry of undesirable persons and preventing wanted criminals from departure, and facilitating the mobility of travellers.

Immigration Control Points

Unlike some parts of the world, the Immigration Department in Hong Kong examines every person passing in and out of Hong Kong, be it by air, land or sea. An effective immigration control is important towards maintaining law and order as well as the harmonious relationship with different nations and regions. Through immigration examination, wanted criminals are intercepted while undesirables are denied entry into Hong Kong. Persons who do not have the right of abode or the right to land in Hong Kong must fulfill normal immigration requirements when seeking to enter Hong Kong. These include the possession of valid travel documents, sufficient means of support and re-entry facilities to their countries of domicile. Passengers who cannot fulfill these requirements or whose bona fides as genuine visitors are in doubt will not be allowed to enter Hong Kong and will be repatriated. In 2012, 29 792 passengers were refused permission to land in Hong Kong.

The Department is committed to providing efficient and courteous services at control points and efforts are constantly made to facilitate travellers. This enables the tourists to have a pleasant and welcoming first impression as soon as they arrive in Hong Kong and have a good memory of Hong Kong as a warm and nice place.

Airport Division

The Airport Division is responsible for exercising immigration control at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

Passenger Traffic

The HKIA is one of the busiest airports in the world. In 2012, 37.8 million landing and departing passengers used the HKIA.

With effect from January 2010, the Airport Division has enhanced its performance pledge. The new pledge is to clear 98 per cent of residents and 95 per cent of visitors within 15-minute waiting time. In 2012, 100 per cent of residents and 97.7 per cent of visitors were cleared within 15-minute waiting time in the Airport.

Spot Checks

To prevent the entry of undesirable persons and deter illegal migration activities, the Airport Division from time to time conducts spot checks on passengers in the arrival and departure halls, transit lounge, transfer areas and boarding gates. In 2012, 224 persons were intercepted for investigation in the Airport for activities related to fraudulent passports and visas.

Customer Service

To provide facilitation to the travelling public, ‘Single Service Points’ were established at all immigration halls in the HKIA in November 2006. Each of the Single Service Points serves the functions of ‘Courtesy Channel’ for holders of diplomatic passports and passengers requiring assistance, and as ‘Frequent Visitor Channel’ for frequent travellers who have visited Hong Kong via the HKIA three times or more in the preceding 12 months, and who have been issued with a Frequent Visitor Card by the Airport Authority Hong Kong. As at December 31, 2012, the Airport Authority Hong Kong has issued 100 423 HKIA Frequent Visitor Cards.

Business Aviation Centre

To meet the demand for business aviation service, the Business Aviation Centre was set up to provide travel convenience to users of private or chartered aircrafts. Business travellers benefit most from the dedicated immigration clearance services provided on a user-pay basis. In 2012, a total of 7 317 aircrafts and 49 986 travellers and crew used the centre.

The SkyPier

The SkyPier, a cross-boundary passenger ferry terminal for transit passengers located at the HKIA, provides direct air-sea link between the HKIA and eight ports in the Pearl River Delta, namely Nansha of Guangzhou, Shekou and Fuyong of Shenzhen, Humen of Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiuzhou of Zhuhai, Macao Maritime Ferry Terminal and Taipa. Transit passengers using the SkyPier services enjoy travel convenience at the HKIA without having to go through regular immigration and customs formalities. There are 76 participating airlines that provide check-in services at the SkyPier. In 2012, more than 1.86 million arriving and 0.74 million departing transit passengers made use of the SkyPier.

To further enhance the service, cross-boundary one-stop check-in services are available at Shekou, Fuyong, Humen and Macao Maritime Ferry Terminal. Passengers can obtain their boarding passes and check in their luggage for direct transfer from ferries using the SkyPier to their designated flights at the HKIA. Currently, there are 13 airlines participated in providing the service.

Frequent Visitor e-Channel

From May 19, 2008 onwards, visitors aged 18 or above who hold a valid HKSAR Travel Pass, APEC Business Travel Card with the economy code ‘HKG’ or HKIA Frequent Visitor Card and who have successfully enrolled with the Immigration Department of HKSAR, are able to enjoy self-service immigration clearance at the HKIA. At present, a total of 16 frequent visitor e-Channels are installed, with 12 at the arrival halls and 4 at the departure halls. From September 7, 2009 the frequent visitor e-Channel service has been extended to selected members of Frequent Flyer Programmes of designated airlines which have joined this arrangement. From April 30, 2012, the service has been further extended to include visitors (a) holding a valid travel document which does not require an entry visa / permit for entering Hong Kong; (b) having made visits to Hong Kong by air via the HKIA for not less than three times in the 12 months immediately before enrolment; and (c) having no adverse record in Hong Kong. As at December 31, 2012, 108 940 frequent visitors have enrolled for the service. 916 296 arriving and 843 022 departing passengers have made use of the self-service immigration clearance.

The enrolment offices are located at the airport arrival hall. Enrolment is free of charge.

Border (Rail) Division

The Border (Rail) Division comprises three control points located at Lo Wu, Hung Hom and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line. The Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Points handle passengers conveyed by the MTR. The Hung Hom Control Point provides immigration clearance service for passengers who take through-trains running between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

Lo Wu Control Point

Being the busiest immigration control point in the territory with the highest passenger traffic, the Lo Wu Control Point handled over 95.6 million passengers in 2012 with an increase of 3.1 per cent as compared to 2011. Nevertheless, among all the passengers, 25 million were visitors with 21.8 per cent upsurge from 2011.

The traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point was extremely busy on festive days. In 2012, the daily average passenger traffic was around 260 000. During weekends or festive periods, the daily passenger figure could be above 300 000. To cope with the huge traffic demand during festive periods, the Department arranged extra manpower from other sections to reinforce the Lo Wu Control Point. In 2012, 99.7 per cent of passengers were cleared within 30 minutes.

To expedite the clearance of cross-boundary students (CBS), six designated e-Channels for CBS have been put into operation at the Lo Wu Control Point. Eligible and enrolled frequent visitors can also enjoy self-service immigration clearance starting from January 3, 2012. A total of 16 frequent visitor e-Channels are installed, with 8 at the arrival and departure halls respectively.

Hung Hom Control Point

The Hung Hom Control Point provides clearance services for travellers taking through-trains to and from the Mainland. The daily 26 runs of through-trains to and from the Mainland serve Dongguan, Guangzhou, Foshan and Zhaoqing of Guangdong province, as well as Shanghai and Beijing. Passenger figure in 2012 reached 4.15 million, representing an increase of 6.5 per cent over the previous year. In 2012, 99.9 per cent of passengers were cleared within 30 minutes.

Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point

The Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point is situated at Lok Ma Chau Terminus (the Terminus) of the East Rail Line of MTR and is another boundary control point that can be used by rail passengers. A Public Transport Interchange adjacent to the Terminus caters for cross-boundary passengers using franchised buses, public light buses and taxis. The control point is linked to the Futian Port of Shenzhen by a two-level passenger bridge.

In 2012, over 41.3 million passengers passed through this control point. An escalating trend has been observed in passenger traffic since its commissioning. The daily average number of passengers in 2012 was 113 038, while the average number of passengers in 2011 was 93 633, indicating 20.7 per cent of increase in figure. In 2012, 98.4 per cent of passengers were cleared within 30 minutes.

Eligible and enrolled frequent visitors can enjoy self-service immigration clearance starting from January 3, 2012. A total of 12 frequent visitor e-Channels are installed, with 6 at the arrival and departure halls respectively.

Border (Vehicles) Division

The Border (Vehicles) Division comprises four control points located at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok and Shenzhen Bay. These immigration control points provide immigration clearance services for vehicular traffic and passengers travelling to and from the Mainland by shuttle buses (at Lok Ma Chau only), coaches or private cars.

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Lok Ma Chau Control Point

With its commissioning on July 1, 2007, the Shenzhen Bay Control Point has diverted some of the cross-boundary traffic of the Lok Ma Chau Control Point. In 2012, the vehicle throughput at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point was 9.5 million. Amongst these vehicles, private cars accounted for 3.6 million, representing a decrease of 5.2 per cent when compared with 2011. In 2012, 29.6 million passengers travelled through the Lok Ma Chau Control Point, including 9.1 million visitors who comprised 31 per cent of the passenger mix. In 2012, around 99.4 per cent of passengers were cleared within 30 minutes.

24-hour Boundary Crossing for Passengers at Lok Ma Chau Control Point

The Lok Ma Chau Control Point has been providing round-the-clock passenger clearance service since January 27, 2003. In 2012, a daily average of over 13 200 passengers had travelled through the control point during the overnight period (midnight to 6:30 a.m.). The overnight passenger traffic rose beyond 15 600 during weekends or public holidays.

Improvement works at Lok Ma Chau Passenger Clearance Building commenced in November 2011 and the whole project is targeted for completion in 2013 by phases. Upon completion of the works, the number of e-Channels will be increased from the original 20 to 33, while the facilities of the relevant departments will also be enhanced.

Man Kam To Control Point

As the Shenzhen Wenjindu Port Passenger Clearance Area had been closed for reconstruction since February 22, 2010, the passenger clearance services at Man Kam To Control Point were suspended correspondingly though goods vehicles and the cross-boundary student clearance services remained available. To meet public needs during reconstruction, limited services of cross-boundary coach operating between Sheung Shui and Wenjindu Port Area have been maintained daily from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. since March 27, 2010. In 2012, the vehicle throughput at the Man Kam To Control Point was 1.5 million, which was roughly the same as that in 2011. In addition, 230 000 passengers travelled through this control point, representing an increase of about 31 per cent over 2011. In 2012, all passengers travelled via the Man Kam To Control Point were cleared within 30 minutes.

The improvement works at the passenger terminal of Man Kam To Control Point commenced in early 2011 and is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2013. Upon completion of the works, the number of e-Channels will be increased from the original 9 to 16.

Sha Tau Kok Control Point

The Sha Tau Kok Control Point provides immigration clearance services to cross-boundary vehicles and passengers. Passengers mainly travel by coaches, hire cars or private cars running between the Mainland and Hong Kong. In 2012, the vehicle throughput at the Sha Tau Kok Control Point was 0.91 million, representing an increase of 2.9 per cent when compared with 2011. 3.2 million passengers travelled through the Sha Tau Kok Control Point, representing an increase of about 3.8 per cent over 2011. All passengers were cleared within 30 minutes in 2012.

Starting from July 1, 2009, the daily operating hours of Sha Tau Kok Control Point were extended by two hours in the evening. The new operating hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The new arrangement makes border-crossing more convenient for passengers and freight operators.

Shenzhen Bay Control Point

The Shenzhen Bay Control Point is the first boundary control point providing ‘Co-location of Boundary Crossing Facilities’ to both passenger and vehicular traffic between Hong Kong and the Mainland.

With the co-location arrangement, much time is saved as passengers conveyed by coaches will only have to get on and off the vehicles once instead of twice when going through immigration clearance at both immigration authorities within the Passenger Terminal Building. For each vehicular clearance kiosk, staff of both Immigration Department and Customs and Excise Department is housed in two closely adjoining compartments, facilitating the provision of one-stop customs and immigration clearance services to cross-boundary vehicles.

The control point operates from 6:30 a.m. to midnight. At present, there are various cross-boundary coaches providing transportation services between Hong Kong and the Mainland. The Public Transport Interchange in the Hong Kong Port Area also provides transportation services of urban / New Territories taxi, franchised bus and franchised public light bus.

The passenger crossings at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point increased by 13 per cent from 25.1 million in 2011 to 28.3 million in 2012, including 13.6 million visitors who comprised 48.1 per cent of the passenger mix.

The vehicular traffic was 3.62 million in 2012, representing an increase of 4.1 per cent when compared with 3.48 million in 2011. Among these vehicles, 69 per cent were private cars, 22 per cent were goods vehicles and the rest were coaches.

Traffic statistics showed that the Shenzhen Bay Control Point is becoming popular among cross-boundary passengers and plays a vital role in relieving the burden of other border control points. In 2012, more than 98.6 per cent of passengers were cleared within 30 minutes.

Eligible and enrolled frequent visitors can enjoy self-service immigration clearance starting from February 20, 2012. A total of 10 frequent visitor e-Channels are installed, with 6 at the arrival hall and 4 at the departure hall.

Simplified Clearance Procedure and On-board Clearance Service for Cross-boundary Students

To further assist cross boundary students (CBS) to travel between the Mainland and Hong Kong, the Department had implemented the simplified clearance procedure for CBS in the 2012-13 school year at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line, Shenzhen Bay, Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok Control Points. The procedure made use of information technology and portable device to enhance the immigration clearance process for CBS. In addition, the on-board clearance service had also been extended from Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok Control Points to Lok Ma Chau Control Point to provide CBS with speedy and safe clearance. In the 2012-13 school year, 110 cross-boundary school buses travelled between Hong Kong and Shenzhen via the 4 vehicular control points on every school day, representing an increase of almost 70 per cent when compared with 65 cross-boundary school buses in the 2011-12 school year.

Harbour Division

The Harbour Division is responsible for providing immigration services to people travelling through the ports of Hong Kong. There are five sections under the command of the Harbour Division, namely the Harbour Control Section, the Macau Terminal Section, the China Ferry Terminal Section, the Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal Section and the Liner Clearance Section.

Harbour Control Section

One of the duties of the Harbour Control Section is to conduct immigration clearance on incoming and outgoing vessels at the two designated immigration anchorages, namely, the Eastern Quarantine and Immigration Anchorage and the Western Quarantine and Immigration Anchorage. In 2012, the Harbour Control Section cleared a total of 172 280 vessels, representing a decrease of 5.5 per cent over the year of 2011.

Besides, the Harbour Control Section is responsible for handling cases concerning repatriation and emergency discharge of seamen, deserters, stowaways, etc. To step up a post-entry enforcement mechanism, the Ship Searching Unit of the section conducts searches and spot checks on vessels in Hong Kong waters regularly to ensure that all incoming vessels comply with the immigration requirements.

The Ship Searching Unit comprises four operation teams and one intelligence and logistics support team. The operation teams are responsible for conducting searches and spot checks on vessels in Hong Kong waters for the detection of evading immigration examination cases, forgeries, illegal immigrants, overstayers, etc. Ad hoc operations and searches are conducted by the unit to strengthen immigration control at sea and combat illicit immigration activities. The intelligence and logistics support team is responsible for the collection and analysis of relevant information and intelligence.

Pre-arrival Clearance Scheme

To facilitate the cargo and logistics industry, the Pre-arrival Clearance Scheme has been launched for years. Approved vessels can proceed directly to berths or terminals for cargo operations without having to wait for immigration clearance at the anchorages. In 2012, 24 954 ocean-going vessels and 52 046 Mainland river or coastal trade vessels were approved under this Scheme prior to their entry to Hong Kong.

The arrangement helps save much of the operational costs and time. It also helps develop and promote Hong Kong’s position as a preferred international and regional transportation and logistics hub.

Macau Terminal Section

In 2012, a total of 17.8 million passengers had travelled to and from Macao and some nearby ports of Guangdong Province via the Macau Ferry Terminal. The total figure had slightly decreased by 0.5 per cent as compared to that in the preceding year. The terminal was the busiest immigration check point among all harbour control points. Majority of the passengers were Hong Kong residents, accumulated to about 62 per cent of the passenger traffic which is approximately 11.1 million, while the visitor ratio had been gradually increasing in recent years. The terminal operates round-the-clock with about 300 daily sailings between Hong Kong and Macao or the Mainland. There is also helicopter service between Hong Kong and Macao with about 41 flights per day.

Eligible and enrolled frequent visitors can enjoy self-service immigration clearance starting from March 19, 2012. A total of 10 frequent visitor e-Channels, with 6 at the arrival hall and 4 at the departure hall, are installed for enrolled Macao permanent residents and frequent visitors.

China Ferry Terminal Section

The China Ferry Terminal Section provides immigration clearance to passengers travelling by vessels between Hong Kong and the Mainland or Macao at the China Ferry Terminal. Besides, the section also deploys officers to provide immigration clearance service to Hong Kong based cruise liners berthing at the Ocean Terminal.

In 2012, the China Ferry Terminal handled a daily average of 128 sailings between Hong Kong and Macao or the Mainland. In the same year, 8.62 million passengers were processed by the China Ferry Terminal Section, which included 0.47 million cruise passengers, representing an increase of 2.4 per cent over 2011. Among the passengers, 49.6 per cent were visitors.

Eligible and enrolled frequent visitors can enjoy self-service immigration clearance starting from March 19, 2012. A total of four frequent visitor e-Channels, with two at the arrival and departure halls respectively, are installed for enrolled Macao permanent residents and frequent visitors.

Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal Section

The Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal Section handled immigration clearance for passengers at the Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal through its Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal Sub-section until suspension of the ferry service in July 2012. Its River Trade Terminal Sub-section provides immigration clearance to Mainland river or coastal trade vessels.

From January to June 2012, 0.22 million passengers were processed by the Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal Sub-section. Among all passengers, 95 per cent were Hong Kong residents and all passengers were cleared within 30 minutes. Since July 1, 2012, the ferry operator had suspended the ferry services.

The River Trade Terminal Sub-section provides round-the-clock immigration clearance to Mainland river or coastal trade vessels at the Tuen Mun Immigration Anchorage so as to relieve the heavy traffic at Ma Wan Channel and facilitate trade activities. In 2012, a daily average of 84 vessels were cleared at the Tuen Mun Immigration Anchorage. The terminal also deals with repatriation and emergency discharge of seamen, deserters, stowaways, etc.

Liner Clearance Section

The Liner Clearance Section, established in April 2012, provides immigration clearance service to passengers and crew members travelling by cruise liners prior to the commissioning of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. It is responsible for the planning, controlling and implementation work in relation to the establishment of the new control point at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.