XN000022-1973-04-19 — Page 3

2

Thursday, April 19, 1973

Both the new juvenile and adult identity cards would be bilingual.

Although thumbprints would not be included on the new cards, the applicant's

prints would be taken on first registration for record purposes, he said.

In addition, it was intended to introduce a new system of numbering

juvenile identity cards so that the same number allocated on first registration

would be retained upon re-registration for adult cards at the age of 18.

Mr. Mitchell explained that the proposed changes were designed to

make it easier for holders of juvenile identity cards to identity themselves

when applying for jobs and for schooling purposes.

He noted that at present the juvenile identity cards only listed the

holder's surname and the identity card number of the parent or guardian.

The improved juvenile card, he said, would bear the holder's full

personal particulars, including his or her photograph, so that he or she

would be readily indentifiable.

The Commissioner said: "In general it is intended that existing

identity cards should continue to be valid. Subject to juvenile registration

requirements, they would only be exchanged for new ones, at the request

of the holder, if it could be satisfactorily shown that it was necessary

and desirable to do so."

-

13

+