HK expands e-Channel service to mainland Chinese travelers

Eligible holders of People’s Republic of China (PRC) passports will be able to use Hong Kong’s automated immigration clearance (e-Channel) service starting Thursday (Jun 26), the Immigration Department announced.

The expanded service applies to travelers aged 11 or above who hold a valid PRC electronic ordinary passport and are transiting through Hong Kong to another country or region.

Eligible individuals can use facial recognition technology to complete arrival procedures without prior registration.

However, the new arrangement does not cover PRC passport holders entering Hong Kong with an “Entry Permit for Hong Kong” issued by overseas Chinese Diplomatic and Consular Missions.

These travelers must continue to clear immigration through manual counters as per existing procedures.

(Marco Lam and Natasha Ng)