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Population and Immigration

Identity Cards

The department also issues identity cards to Hong Kong residents. There are two types: the Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card for residents who have the right of abode in Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Identity Card for residents who do not have that right.

Except those who are required to obtain Certificates of Entitlement, people who are claiming right of abode in the HKSAR must apply for verification of their eligibility for a permanent identity card. In 2016, 77,371 applications were received and 64,352 were approved.

Smart Identity Card

The smart identity card issued by the department employs state-of-the-art technologies and is highly fraud-resistant, making use of fingerprint recognition technology to authenticate the cardholders' identity and enabling cardholders to enjoy self-service immigration clearance via e-Channels. In 2016, 587,043 smart identity cards were issued.

Nationality Matters

The 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 department. In 2016, the department received 200 applications for declaration of change of nationality, 1,631 applications for naturalisation as Chinese nationals, 129 applications for renunciation of Chinese nationality and eight applications for restoration of Chinese nationality.

Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Outside Hong Kong

The Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit under the 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, overseas Chinese diplomatic and consular missions, consulates in Hong Kong, HKSAR Government offices outside Hong Kong and other government departments to provide practical assistance to Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong. The unit handled 2,808 such requests in 2016.

Marriages

Marriage registration is governed by the Marriage Ordinance. All marriages contracted under the ordinance involve the voluntary union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. There is no residential or nationality requirement but either party cannot be under the age of 16.

The Registrar of Marriages should be given at least 15 days' notice of an intended marriage, which must then take place within three months of the notice. Couples may marry at any of the five marriage registries or 271 licensed places of worship, or engage a civil celebrant to celebrate their marriage at any place in Hong Kong other than the marriage registries and

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