The department launched ICONS in phases between 2016 and 2017 to replace and consolidate the four ageing control point systems in order to meet new business needs. The project included the upgrade of 437 e-Channels to multi-purpose e-Channels, the installation of 158 new multi-purpose e-Channels, the introduction of the 'Smart Departure' service to allow eligible visitors holding electronic passports to perform self-service departure clearance at e-Channels without prior enrolment, and the introduction of other new functions to enhance the overall handling capacity of control points.

To further enhance the functions of e-Channels and facilitate the convenience of their use, the department introduced in 2018 newly designed e-Channels at new control points, including the Express Rail Link West Kowloon Control Point, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Control Point and the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point. Apart from enhancing the efficiency in management and maintenance, the new e-Channels can also provide a more convenient and comfortable user experience for members of the public.

As at the end of 2022, a total of 756 multi-purpose e-Channels, which could be flexibly deployed for use by eligible Hong Kong residents or visitors, were installed at control points.

At present, there are six designated e-Channels at the Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Points respectively for cross-boundary primary school students under the age of 11. Simplified clearance procedure for cross-boundary students has also been adopted at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line, Shenzhen Bay, Lok Ma Chau, Sha Tau Kok, Man Kam To and Lo Wu Control Points. With the use of portable clearance devices, more expeditious immigration clearance service has been provided for enrolled cross-boundary students.

The e-Channel service at the Airport Control Point has been extended to frequent visitors aged 18 or above holding a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Travel Pass, an APEC Business Travel Card with the economy code 'HKG' or a Hong Kong International Airport Frequent Visitor Card. It has also been further extended to eligible members of frequent flyer programmes of various airlines. Frequent visitors who hold a valid travel document for which an entry visa/permit for entering Hong Kong is not required, have made visits to Hong Kong by air via Hong Kong International Airport for no less than three times in the past 12 months immediately before enrolment and have no adverse record in Hong Kong, may also enrol for the e-Channel service.

In order to provide greater travel convenience for both Hong Kong and Macao residents, enrolled Macao permanent residents may use e-Channels to perform immigration clearance at all control points. Reciprocally, eligible Hong Kong residents may use the automated immigration clearance service at control points in Macao. Hong Kong non-permanent residents holding an HKSAR Document of Identity for Visa Purposes (Doc/I) and Macao non-permanent residents holding a Visit Permit for Residents of Macao to HKSAR may also enjoy such facilitation.

The Express e-Channel was introduced at the Lo Wu Control Point to provide a faster e-Channel service to enrolled Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above who are existing e-Channel users. The service was extended to the Shenzhen Bay Control Point and the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point in November 2018.

The department launched e-Channels with a voice navigation function for visually impaired persons to perform self-service immigration clearance at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line, Macau Ferry Terminal, Shenzhen Bay, China Ferry Terminal, Lo Wu, Express Rail Link West Kowloon, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Hung Hom and Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Points. Users of the service simply need to press the activation button at the entrance of an e-Channel to initiate the voice navigation function and voice instructions will then be delivered to guide them to complete the clearance process.

Under the arrangements for mutual use of automated immigration clearance services, eligible HKSAR passport holders can enrol for the automated immigration clearance services of the participating countries/territories, whilst eligible passport holders of the participating countries/territories can enrol for the e-Channel service in Hong Kong. Following the arrangements for mutual use of automated immigration clearance services with Korea, Singapore, Germany and Australia, a similar arrangement with Thailand was implemented in September 2018. Moreover, with effect from December 2018, further facilitation for enrolment for automated clearance services has been provided by Hong Kong and Singapore on a mutual basis, so that eligible passport holders of both sides can enjoy greater convenience when they travel between the two places.

The department is actively discussing the mutual use of automated immigration clearance services with other countries/territories and it is expected that more countries/territories will become our partners in this aspect.

The department introduced in February 2019 a new form of Consular Corps Identity Card (CCIC), which is embedded with a chip module. Enrolled holders may perform self-service immigration clearance at e-Channels in control points with their new CCICs.

The Contactless e-Channel service was first launched at the Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Shenzhen Bay and Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Control Points in December 2021, and was extended to all control points in 2022. Eligible Hong Kong residents may enrol for the service by downloading the department's 'Contactless e-Channel' mobile application on a smartphone with biometric authentication. Upon successful enrolment with the mobile application, they can use the encrypted QR code generated by the mobile application to enter a Contactless e-Channel and perform self-service immigration clearance through facial recognition technology.

Alternatively, eligible Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above may also use their smart identity cards to enrol for the service directly at any Contactless e-Channel and perform immigration clearance through facial recognition technology.

The department, in collaboration with the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA), launched the 'Flight Token e-Channel' service at the Hong Kong International Airport in October 2022 to provide Hong Kong residents with more convenient departure clearance service. Hong Kong residents aged 11 or above who choose to use the 'Flight Token' service of the AA and depart through the Security Gates at the departure hall with an HKSAR passport, an HKSAR Doc/I or a Hong Kong and Macao Residents Entry and Exit Permit (commonly known as a 'Home Visit Permit') may use the 'Flight Token e-Channel' service for automated departure clearance. When using the service, they can simply look at the camera for verification of identity by facial recognition technology, and the departure clearance will be completed without the presentation of any document throughout the process.

SMARTICS-2, an online information system that supports the whole process of smart identity card application from appointment booking, registration, production to issuance, is the foundation for the self-service immigration clearance service. The system has been implemented at six Registration of Persons Offices since November 2018, and its functions supporting the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise also came into operation at nine Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres in December 2018. The new smart identity card is made of high-quality polycarbonate materials. On top of the current contact chip interface, the new smart identity card also supports a contactless chip interface. This reduces wear and tear to the identity card and the chip due to card reading, thus making the identity card more durable. Moreover, with the introduction of a number of state-of-the-art security features and other sophisticated security designs, coupled with a more complex pattern background on the card as compared with the old form of smart identity card, the new smart identity card has stronger protection against counterfeiting or photo substitution. To provide faster and more convenient services for residents, SMARTICS-2 has introduced various new functions and facilities, including a mobile application for making appointments for identity card application or replacement, filling in relevant electronic forms in advance and enquiring about the queuing status. In addition, the newly installed Self-service Tag Issuing Kiosks, Self-service Registration Kiosks and Self-service Collection Kiosks provide faster and more convenient services for residents.

To tie in with the introduction of the On-site Identity Card Replacement Service in May 2019, the department developed a new mobile registration system, which has enabled our outreach teams to provide on-site identity card replacement service to residents of residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

The e-Passport-2 System supports one-stop-shop travel document application service, including appointment booking, application processing and issuance of travel documents. The system was launched on 14 May 2019 to tie in with the issuance of the newly introduced HKSAR Electronic Passport (e-Passport) and Electronic Document of Identity for Visa Purposes (e-Doc/I). In order to effectively enhance the security, reliability and interoperability of the Next Generation e-Passport and e-Doc/I, a number of state-of-the-art security features, such as tactile relief features, full colour UV printing and a transparent window with the holder's portrait engraved thereon by laser engraving technology, have been introduced. To cater for the needs of the visually impaired, the document number and the date of expiry can be printed in braille on the back of the data page of the Next Generation e-Passport and e-Doc/I, thereby facilitating the visually impaired in identifying their travel documents. The e-Passport-2 System has also introduced various new measures to optimise the passport application process. They include online submission of passport applications by eligible applicants aged below 11 years old, submission of passport applications via a mobile application and completion of electronic forms in advance upon appointment booking. In addition, applicants may choose to use the self-service photo-taking function at Travel Document Submission Kiosks free of charge, which makes the process faster and more convenient. The kiosks also support Octopus and Faster Payment System (FPS) payment functions, providing more payment options for the public. With the launch of Passport Collection Kiosks on 30 October 2020, eligible HKSAR passport applicants may choose to collect their passports in a self-service manner.

APPLIES-2 is an online information system that supports the processing of applications for visas, permits, travel passes, etc., registration of births, deaths and marriages, verification of eligibility for permanent identity card, and handling of cases requiring assistance to Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong and cases related to enforcement, removal assessment and litigation. By adopting advanced technologies, the system enhances various immigration services and assists case officers in assessing applications more effectively through automated functions for record checks, thereby further enhancing the overall efficiency in case processing and assessment. Coupled with the use of the Electronic Services System, the public can enjoy relevant e-Services, including booking of appointments, submission of applications and supplementary documents, payment of application fees, and downloading of 'e-Visas', through the Internet.

Pre-arrival Registration for Taiwan Residents allows eligible Taiwan residents to apply for pre-arrival registration directly by electronic means through the Internet free of charge without going through airlines in Taiwan. The application result will also be displayed instantly. It provides greater travel convenience for Taiwan residents visiting Hong Kong.

Indian nationals may also apply for pre-arrival registration by electronic means through the Internet free of charge for visiting or transiting Hong Kong.

By making use of the Electronic Data Interchange System, the APEC Business Travel Card Scheme facilitates pre-cleared entry of accredited business visitors to participating economies of the Asia-Pacific region. Business travel card holders coming to Hong Kong can use the 'Hong Kong Resident' counters at control points for immigration clearance.

The GOA System enables speedy communication and dissemination of information through electronic means within the department and among policy bureaux and departments of the HKSAR Government.

The e-Leave System is the first government-to-employee application project. All staff members of the department can access the web-based system to process their leave applications, and calculate and keep track of leave records through any networked computer workstation in the department.

OASIS is an online information system which aims at enhancing productivity in operational and administrative areas. It facilitates the management of information relating to personnel, stores and inventory.

The e-Records (Adm) System is an electronic records and document management system developed under the Electronic Records Programme. Leveraging advanced information technology and making use of GOA workstations and scanners, the system aims to improve staff's efficiency in handling administrative records. All staff of the department can use the system in their offices to handle administrative records.

The department's Intranet provides an electronic channel for fast dissemination of multi-media information, strengthens staff's communication and acts as an online self-learning platform.

The departmental homepage adopts a user-friendly mobile phone interface, which facilitates the browsing of our homepage with various mobile devices. Members of the public not only can obtain the latest news and information of the department on its homepage, but can also access websites of related government departments/organisations via the hyperlinks provided.

The DWIS improves the department's capability of providing various statistical analyses for reference by the management in decision making and resources planning.

The Immigration Department Mobile Application is equipped with a number of functions, such as booking for application for an identity card, application for an HKSAR passport, and calling the 24-hour 1868 Hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) using network data. In 2022, the department introduced the functions such as online submission of applications, enquiry, payment and downloading of an 'e-visa' in respect of all visa types into the mobile application so as to enhance the electronic services for visa application. The Online Assistance Request Form was also made available for Hong Kong residents abroad who were in need of urgent assistance to seek assistance from the AHU. With the extension of the service of online submission of applications to more services, functions relating to births, deaths and marriage registration were also added to the mobile application to enable applicants to submit applications through the mobile application anytime and anywhere without having to attend an Immigration Office in person. Besides, other useful information, such as Outbound Travel Tips which provide Hong Kong residents with tips on travelling abroad, and the link to the department's official YouTube channel, can also be found in the mobile application.

With effect from 19 December 2022, the online payment service supports the use of the FPS in making payments for births, deaths and marriage registration as well as visa applications, providing more payment options for the applicants.

To provide greater convenience for the public, the department has included the 'e-ME' form filling function of iAM Smart in various electronic services since June 2021 to spare members of the public the need for repeated input of personal information when applying online for visas, extension of stay and HKSAR passports and pre-filling forms for identity card and travel document applications, making the application process simpler and more convenient. With the introduction of the Contactless e-Channel service in December 2021, eligible Hong Kong residents can use the iAM Smart platform for identity verification and enrolment for the Contactless e-Channel service. Upon successful enrolment, they can use the encrypted QR code generated by their personal mobile phones to enter the Contactless e-Channel and perform immigration clearance through facial recognition technology. The process enables Hong Kong residents to reduce contact with shared equipment and enjoy faster, more convenient and hygienic immigration clearance service. In addition, the department is planning to incorporate more smart living elements into its daily public services through the iAM Smart platform. They include the introduction of the I-RemindU service in January 2023 to promptly remind registered members of the public that their HKSAR passports are about to expire or have already expired, or remind registered Hong Kong non-permanent residents visiting/remaining in Hong Kong with a visa/an entry permit that their limit of stay is about to expire. The I-RemindU service will continuously be expanded in the future to remind in due course members of the public to submit various immigration-related applications.