ENG-2007 — Page 485

Population and Immigration | 409

During the year, representatives from the HKSAR law enforcement agencies participated in a number of international/regional conferences and workshops held in Thailand, Macao SAR, Cambodia, Mexico and Japan respectively.

Emigration

The estimated number of people who emigrated from Hong Kong in 2007 was 9 900, most of whom went to the United States (3 700), Australia (3 200) and Canada (1 100).

Personal Documentation

Travel Documents

The Immigration Department started to issue the HKSAR electronic passport (HKSAR e-Passport) on February 5 2007. The HKSAR e-Passport is embedded with a contactless integrated chip containing the holder's personal data and facial image as the biometric identifiers in accordance with the standards specified by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The passport contains other improved anti- forgery features, further enhancing its security. Issuance of the HKSAR passport is controlled strictly by the Immigration Department. All passports are prepared centrally by the Immigration Department in Hong Kong. The HKSAR Passports are issued only to Hong Kong permanent residents who are Chinese citizens having the right of abode in the HKSAR and are holding Hong Kong permanent identity cards.

Applications can be made by post or in person. Those from overseas can be sent to the Immigration Department through Chinese diplomatic or consular missions. Since December 22, 2007, applicants, aged 18 or above, were able to submit their applications online via the Internet. During the year, 538 723 HKSAR passport applications (including e-Passport) were received, including 6 964 from overseas.

The HKSAR Passports Appeal Board handles appeals against rejections of applications for HKSAR passports. It received 13 (7 overseas and 6 local) appeals in 2007.

The Immigration Department continued to lobby for visa-free access for HKSAR passport holders. Fiji agreed in 2007 to grant visa-free access to holders of HKSAR passport. By year-end, a total of 135 countries and territories had granted or agreed to grant visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders.

Other travel documents issued by the Immigration Department include Documents of Identity for Visa Purposes (Doc/ls) and Re-entry Permits (REPs). Doc/ls are issued for international travel. They are also issued to Hong Kong residents who are not eligible for the HKSAR passport and who are unable to obtain a national passport or travel document of any other countries or territories. REPs are issued to Hong Kong residents for travelling to the Mainland and Macao. During the year, 34 839 Doc/ls and 112 136 REPs were issued.

Identity Cards

The Immigration Department also issues identity cards to Hong Kong residents. There are two types of identity cards: the Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card issued