ENG-2014 — Page 361

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Population and Immigration

Emigration

The estimated number of emigrants from Hong Kong in 2014 was 6,900, with most going to the United States (2,200), Australia (1,900) and Canada (800).

Personal Documentation

Travel Documents

The Immigration Department issues HKSAR electronic passports (HKSAR e-Passport), 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 department strictly controls the issue of HKSAR passports, issuing them only to Hong Kong permanent residents who are Chinese citizens with the right of abode in the HKSAR holding valid Hong Kong permanent identity cards.

Eligible applicants aged 11 or above may submit their applications through the internet and applicants aged 18 or above may also submit their applications through self-service kiosks at the Immigration Department's offices. A programme was launched in December 2011 for eligible applicants aged 11 to 17 to submit their applications through self-service kiosks at the department's headquarters. During 2014, 774,032 HKSAR passport applications were received, including 7,013 from overseas.

The HKSAR Passports Appeal Board handles appeals against rejections of applications for HKSAR passports. It received 13 appeals in 2014. The Immigration Department continued lobbying for greater immigration convenience, including visa-free access for HKSAR passport holders. In 2014, Malawi and Moldova agreed to grant visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders while Guyana and Tonga agreed to visa-on-arrival access. By year end, 151 countries and territories had granted visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to HKSAR passport holders.

Other travel documents issued by the Immigration Department include Documents of Identity for Visa Purposes (Doc/Is) and Re-entry Permits (REPs). Doc/Is are issued for international travel 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. In 2014, 45,472 Doc/ls and 105,194 REPs were issued.

Identity Cards

The Immigration Department also issues identity cards to Hong Kong residents. There are two types: 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, those claiming right of abode in the HKSAR must apply for verification of their eligibility for a permanent identity card. In 2014, 61,379 applications were received and 47,875 were approved.

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