Hong Kong Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) Scheme Scope The immigration services available through the Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) Scheme are : • • • • • •

Application for Search and Copy of Birth/Death/Marriage Certificate Appointment Booking for Registration of Identity Card Appointment Booking under the Hong Kong Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise Appointment Booking for Applying Travel Documents or Extension of Stay (at Immigration Branch Offices only) Notification of Pre-mature Termination of Contracts of Imported Workers/Foreign Domestic Helpers Immigration Information Lookup

The ESD website is http://www.esd.gov.hk/home/eng/default.asp, in English and Chinese Overview ESD is a key initiative of the Digital 21 Information Technology Strategy of the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau. It is a key milestone in the strategy to develop Hong Kong into a leading digital city in the globally connected world of the 21st century. Main Goals of ESD • • •

to deliver high quality public services to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of delivery of public services to foster the development of electronic commerce in Hong Kong

Benefits of ESD Convenient and Speedy • •

available for use 24 hours a day and 7 days a week simple and user-friendly service interface for easy navigation

Safe and Secure • • •

24-hour hotline support safe and secure electronic transactions all personal data encrypted during transmission

Delivery Channels of ESD

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PC at home, in office or other places with Internet connection public computer facilities at district offices, community halls, public libraries and post offices ESD kiosks

Basic Hardware/Software Requirements For best performance, your computer should meet all of the following: • • • • • • •

Pentium 166 MHz, or its equivalent processor 64MB RAM 20MB Harddisk free space 800 x 600 screen pixels 56K modem Chinese / English Windows 95/98/NT/2000 Internet Explorer Version 5.0 or above

Digital Certificates For applications requiring authentication of user's identity, they require digital signature using digital certificate* issued by a recognized certification authority (such as Hongkong Post e-Cert) to authenticate the identity of users and to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of information. (* Note : If the application is submitted through public information kiosks, a smart card with digital certificate is required.) Payment Methods With the use of advanced online payment technology SET and SSL, ESD offers confidential and secure electronic payment methods in co-operation with major financial institutions to provide users with an extensive choice of convenient payment methods. They include: • •

credit cards (VISA, Master Card and Diners Club) debit cards (JETCO and EPSCO)

Application Details Application for Search and Copy of Birth/Death/Marriage Certificate • •

You can fill in information to apply for search of birth, death or marriage records, or certified true copies of birth, death or marriage certificates. For search of birth/death records, you can select either "particular search", covering a search period of not exceeding 5 years, or "general search", covering a

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search period of more than 5 years; you can also specify the number of certificates required if the search result is positive. For search of birth, death or marriage records, application fee will be collected online; for certified copy of birth, death or marriage certificate, application fee will be collected at the time of collection in the registry selected by you. You can select your most convenient birth, death or marriage registry to collect the search result or the certified copy of certificate. In support of the application for certified copy of birth or death certificate, you need to produce the original or photocopy of the certificate upon collection, otherwise, you need to conduct a record search in the first instance. To sign the application, you need to have either a personal digital certificate or organizational digital certificate, which can ensure the confidentiality and security of personal data in each transaction.

Appointment Booking for Registration of Identity Card • • •

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You can make appointment booking for registration, renewal or replacement of HK identity card at any one of the Registration of Persons offices. You can make only one appointment within a two-week period (i.e. 12 working days). The earliest appointment can be made on the next working day. You may select either 'Single Appointment' or 'Group Appointment' subject to quota availability. For 'Group Appointment', you may reserve up to four appointments in the same office at the same time interval. In making an appointment, you need to input a 6-digit number for subsequent identification purpose. You may enter the first 6 digits of your identity card, birth certificate or travel document as identification code. With your identification code, you may change or cancel a successful appointment. For changing an appointment, the earliest available booking will be on the next working day.

Appointment Booking under the Hong Kong Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise •

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You can make appointment booking to apply for a smart identity card at any one of the Smart Identity Card Centres if you fall within the call-up phase as announced by the Immigration Department. You can start making an appointment 14 days in advance of the commencement date of the call-up phase. You can only book an appointment within a maximum of 4 weeks from the day of booking. (i.e. Even if the call-up phase is longer than 4 weeks, you will be able to choose an appointment only within the 4-week time frame. If the call-up phase is shorter than 4 weeks, then the appointment can only be made within the remaining days of the particular phase.) An appointment can be made at least 1 day in advance, provided that the quota is not full. Change or cancellation of an appointment must be made at least 1 day in advance.

Appointment Booking for Applying Travel Documents or Extension of Stay (at Immigration Branch Offices only) • • • • •

You can make an appointment for submitting application for travel documents* or extension of stay** at any of the Immigration Branch Offices. You can select your appointment within the next 12 working days following the day booking the appointment. The result of booking is subject to the availability of quota of each office. You can make a group appointment (a maximum of 4) at the same office and time interval. All group members should attend together. After an appointment is made, you may change or cancel the appointment. For changing an appointment, you can only choose a new bookable day at least one working day later than the day making the change.

* These include (1) HKSAR Passport, (2) HKSAR Re-entry Permit, (3) HKSAR Document of Identity and (4) Seaman's Identity Book. ** This includes applications from: 1. Persons on employment status or dependant status (other than persons admitted under "Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals", "Supplementary Labour Scheme" and "Capital Investment Entrant Scheme" and Mainland students graduated from University Grants Committee (UGC) - funded institutions who are admitted for employment in Hong Kong and their dependants); 2. Persons on student status (other than persons from the Mainland); 3. Holders of One-way Permit from the Mainland; and 4. Visitors (other than persons from the Mainland). Note: Applications for change of status and other applications for extension of stay should be submitted to relevant sections at the headquarters of Immigration Department. Notification of Pre-mature Termination of Contracts of Imported Workers/Foreign Domestic Helpers For Imported Workers Under the existing Supplementary Labour Scheme, the employer is required to notify the Immigration Department of any pre-mature termination of employment contracts of imported workers within 7 days before the date of termination, or within 1 working day after the termination if the contract is terminated without prior notice.

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As either the employer or employee, you may use this application to notify the Immigration Department of such termination. To sign the application, you need to use an organizational digital certificate (if you are the employer) or a personal digital certificate (if you are the imported worker), which can also ensure the confidentiality and integrity of personal data submitted in the application.

For Foreign Domestic Helpers Under the standardized Employment Contract for a foreign domestic helper, both the employer and the foreign domestic helper need to notify Immigration Department within 7 days of the date of pre-mature termination of the contracts. • •

As either the employer or the foreign domestic helper, you may use this application to notify the Immigration Department of such termination. To sign the application, you need to have the personal digital certificate, which can also ensure the confidentiality and integrity of personal data submitted in the application.

Immigration Information Lookup •

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Through the hyperlink to the homepage of Immigration Department, you may access the information on the procedures and guidelines for applying Hong Kong travel documents, launching of new policies, or download various types of application forms (only applicable at Internet). Also, you may leave your name and address for postal delivery of application forms. In each application, you may select a maximum of 2 types of application forms and up to 2 copies for each type. Each application forms requested will be sent out by service mail in 2 working days.

Customer Service Support Centre Should you encounter any problem when using our ESD service, please contact the Customer Service Support Centre as follows:• •

Telephone no. : (852) 3151-2222 (24-hours hotline) Fax no. : (852) 3151-2233

E-mail address : [email protected]