ENG-2007 — Page 486

410 | Population and Immigration

to residents who have the right of abode in Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Identity Card issued to residents who do not have that right.

Except those who are required to obtain Certificates of Entitlement, people who claim to have the right of abode in the HKSAR must apply for verification of their eligibility for a permanent identity card. In 2007, 61 428 applications were received and 46 189 were approved.

Smart Identity Card

The Immigration Department introduced the smart identity card to Hong Kong residents in June 2003. The card employs state-of-the-art technologies and is more fraud-resistant. The cardholder's personal particulars are engraved on the card by laser, and templates of the holder's thumbprints and facial image are stored in a chip embedded in the card and protected by sophisticated cryptographic techniques. The smart identity cards enable the Immigration Department to use the fingerprint recognition technology to authenticate the cardholders' identity by automated means quickly and enables cardholders to enjoy the convenience of self-service immigration clearance via the e-Channels.

The territory-wide arrangement for replacing the old identity cards with the smart identity cards was completed by the end of March 2007. A total of 5 384 164 smart identity cards were issued.

Nationality Matters

The Immigration Department is authorised by the Central People's Government to handle Chinese nationality applications from Hong Kong residents. Applications can be made either by post or in person. Overseas applications can be made through. the nearest Chinese diplomatic or consular mission. Chinese nationals of the HKSAR who want to be treated as foreign nationals in the HKSAR must make a declaration of change of nationality to the Immigration Department. During the year, the Immigration Department received 52 applications for declaration of change of nationality, 1 567 applications for naturalisation as Chinese nationals, 94 applications for renunciation of Chinese nationality and 18 applications for restoration of Chinese nationality.

Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Outside Hong Kong

The Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department works closely with the Security Bureau, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in overseas countries, the Office of the HKSAR Government in Beijing, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong and other government departments to provide practical assistance to Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong. During the year, 1 474 such requests were handled.