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ID card holders' eligibility for public-funded services
Following is a question by the Hon Howard Young and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
At present, people living in the territory hold Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards or Hong Kong Identity Cards. Will the Government inform this Council
whether there are:
Reply:
(a)
(b)
Mr President,
(a)
(b)
any other categories of Identity Cards that are related to the residential status of the holder; and
any differences in eligibility for publicly funded services such as public housing, medical and health, education and social welfare between different categories of identity card holders.
In addition to the Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card and the Hong Kong Identity Card, there is a third type of identity card which is issued to consuls, consular staff, their spouses and dependent children of the age of 11 years and above. The Consular Corps Identity Card is issued under the provisions of the Registration of Persons Ordinance, Cap. 177. It is different in form from the Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card and the Hong Kong Identity Card.
The eligibility in respect of the four types of public-funded services is as follows:-
Public Housing
Holders of Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards may apply for public rental housing (PRH) and subsidised home ownership flats provided they satisfy the 7 year residence rule and other eligibility criteria relating to income and property ownership. Those who have not yet fulfilled the residence rule but satisfy other eligibility criteria may apply and be placed on the Waiting List for public rental housing. They will be allocated flats only when they have fulfilled the residence rule and when their turn
comes.
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