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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1978
ID CARDS REGISTRATION SERVICE EXPANDING
******
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IS EXTENDING ITS REGISTRATION
OF IDENTITY CARD SERVICE TO ITS BRANCH OFFICES FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE PUBLIC.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THIS ADDITIONAL SERVICE WAS FIRST INTRODUCED AT YUEN LONG OFFICE IN MID-AUGUST AND THE RESPONSE SO FAR HAS BEEN +VERY ENCOURAGING+.
HE SAID THAT PEOPLE LIVING IN YUEN LONG AND IN SURROUNDING AREAS HAVE MADE FULL USE OF THE IDENTITY CARD SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE YUEN LONG OFFICE AND THEY ALL FOUND IT VERY CONVENIENT.
+PREVIOUSLY THEY HAD TO TRAVEL A LONG DISTANCE EITHER TO TSUEN WAN OR TO TAI PO TO REGISTER, OR ELSE THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR THE MOBILE REGISTRATION TEAM WHICH CALLS AT THEIR DISTRICT ONLY ONCE A YEAR.+
SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS EXTRA SERVICE, THE YUEN LONG OFFICE HAS HANDLED ABOUT 2,300 CASES OF IDENTITY CARDS INCLUDING THE REGISTRATION FOR JUVENILE AND ADULT CARDS, AND APPLICATIONS FOR REPLACEMENTS AND CHANGES IN PARTICULARS.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO URGED PEOPLE TO REGISTER IN TIME FOR JUVENILE AND ADULT IDENTITY CARDS ON REACHING 11 AND 18 YEARS OF AGE RESPECTIVELY. NEW ARRIVALS TO HONG KONG WHO INTEND TO STAY HERE FOR MORE THAN THREE MONTHS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO REGISTER. FAILURE TO DO SO, HE POINTED OUT, IS A BREACH OF THE LAW.
HE STRESSED THAT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL HOLDERS OF IDENTITY CARDS TO REPORT IMMEDIATELY TO THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE ANY CHANGES IN RESIDENTIAL OR OCCUPATIONAL ADDRESSES AND MARITAL STATUS.
PEOPLE WHO LEAVE HONG KONG FOR A PERIOD EXCEEDING THREE MONTHS OR TAKE PERMANENT RESIDENCE OVERSEAS SHOULD ALSO NOTIFY THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE SO THAT THEIR RECORDS MAY BE KEPT UP-TO-DATE.
SUCH CHANGES CAN BE REPORTED EITHER BY WRITING TO THE DEPARTMENT OR BY COMPLETING ROP FORM 18/19 COPIES OF WHICH ARE OBTAINABLE FROM POST OFFICES, CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND ALL OFFICES OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT INCLUDING REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICES.
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