E-channel services extended to nonpermanent residents

All Hong Kong residents aged 11 or above can now use the e-channel service at all border control points after it was extended to all nonpermanent residents, including foreign domestic helpers, imported workers and nonlocal students.

Some 420,000 additional residents will be able to opt for express clearance after registering through the "Contactless e-Channel" mobile app, according to the Immigration Department.

As a result, the time for immigration clearance - including at the Hong Kong International Airport - will be shortened from 15 to seven seconds.

"These persons had to use traditional counters for immigration clearance before the service was introduced. Now, they can travel more conveniently," assistant director (immigration services) Or Chung-yuk said yesterday.

Or said the e-channel allows greater flexibility in staff deployment and opens more counters to other travelers.

E-channel was introduced in November 2021 but the service was unavailable to nonpermanent residents.

Until June 30 this year, over 2.4 million Hong Kong residents had registered to use the service.

Some 57 million passengers went through immigration clearance in the first six months this year, of which 40 million or 70 percent used the e-channel, according to the department.

Among the 40 million, 30 percent used contactless e-channel to get through immigration.

Those newly eligible can download the app using a smartphone with biometric authentication technology to enroll for the service.

The enrolment process is the same as for Hong Kong permanent residents.

Identity authentication will be done via the government's "iAM Smart" app. Those under 18 will be asked for parental consent during the enrollment process.

Upon successful registration, an encrypted QR code will be generated and the QR code can be used repeatedly.

Users can show the generated QR code or their Hong Kong identity card to enter the e-channel, which will apply facial recognition to verify their identity. When using the QR code, the app will automatically switch to offline mode. It will refresh every 30 seconds due to security reasons, and will not affect immigration procedures.

A landing slip stipulating the condition and limit of stay of the Hong Kong resident will be printed by the channel. The gates will open automatically after the slip is collected.

The Immigration Department said nonpermanent residents using the e-channel must meet the conditions of stay in Hong Kong and will be unable to use the service if their stay has expired.

Those wishing to use the e-channel again will have to meet the conditions of stay again and reactivate their visa at immigration counters, it said.

There are currently around 700 e-channels at all control points, of which 600 are contactless.

Or said the e-channels will be able to cope with the peak traveling period during the summer vacation.

charlie.chun@singtaonewscorp.com