ENG-2011 — Page 500

428 ❘ Population and Immigration

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 issued to Hong Kong residents who are not eligible for the HKSAR passport and are unable to obtain a passport or travel document of any other country or territory. REPS are issued to Hong Kong residents to travel to the Mainland and Macao. During the year, 45 457 Doc/ls and 130 583 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 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 2011, a total of 65 117 applications were received and 46 620 were approved.

Smart Identity Card

The Immigration Department introduced the smart identity card in June 2003. The card employs state-of-the-art technologies and is highly fraud-resistant.

The smart identity cards enable the Immigration Department to use the fingerprint recognition technology to authenticate the cardholders' identity and enable cardholders to enjoy self-service immigration clearance via the e-Channels. In 2011, a total of 568 624 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. 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 152 applications for declaration of change of nationality, 1 219 applications for naturalisation as Chinese nationals, 52 applications for renunciation of Chinese nationality and 15 applications. for restoration of Chinese nationality.

Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Outside Hong Kong

The Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) of the Immigration Department works closely with the Security Bureau, the 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, 4 045 such requests were handled.