Immigration Department

Agency overview
Formed	4 August 1961; 59 years ago (1961-08-04)[1]
Jurisdiction	Hong Kong
Headquarters	Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai
Employees	6,569
Minister responsible	John Lee, Secretary for Security
Agency executive	Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, Director
Website	Official website

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The Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong is responsible for immigration control of Hong Kong. After the People's Republic of China assumed sovereignty of the territory in July 1997, Hong Kong's immigration system remained largely unchanged from its British predecessor model. Residents from mainland China do not have the right of abode in Hong Kong, nor can they enter the territory freely, both before and after 1997. There are different regulations that apply to residents of Macau, another Special Administrative Region of China. In addition, visa-free entry acceptance regulations into Hong Kong for passport holders of some 170 countries remain unchanged before and after 1997.

In a special arrangement, although Hong Kong's residents of Chinese descent are defined as citizens of the People's Republic of China, as stipulated by the Basic Law, Hong Kong's Immigration Department is responsible for issuing Hong Kong SAR passports for Hong Kong residents who are also PRC citizens seeking international travel.

History

Flag of Immigration Department, 1988-1997.

Badge of Immigration Department, 1988-1997.

Prior to the 1950s, immigration to Hong Kong was not controlled by the government of Hong Kong and migrants freely entered Hong Kong. By the end of World War II, the influx of migrants from China to Hong Kong to flee Communist rule resulted in immigration control.

From 1949 to 1961, registration of persons with identification was required under the Registration of Persons Ordinance 1949 and established a Commissioner of Registration.

Until the establishment of Immigration Department on 4 August 1961, immigration control in Hong Kong was handled by the Hong Kong Police Force.^[2] The Immigration Service Ordinance 1961 created the new department in charge of immigration control. Later in 1977, the department enlarged its functions to cover registration of persons by amalgamating with the Registration of Persons Office and Director of Immigration also assumed as Commissioner of Registration.^[3] In 1979, the department took over from the Registrar General civil registration duties and the Director of Immigration was appointed as Registrar of Births and Deaths, and Registrar of Marriages.

The Department is headquartered in the Immigration Tower in Wan Chai North.

Roles

Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre and Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development in Castle Peak Bay, Tuen Mun

The Department performs the following roles:

• Preventing visits by prominent human rights and democracy advocates, upon the direction of the mainland government.^[4]
• Immigration control at the checkpoints (Hong Kong International Airport as well as Mainland-Hong Kong port of entry)
• HK Resident Affairs (by Division of Registration of Persons)
  • Issuing Hong Kong Identity Card (both permanent and non-permanent)
  • Birth registration
  • Death certification
  • Marriage certification
• Registering/Denouncing Chinese citizenship
• Naturalization of HK permanent residents who wish to be Chinese citizens
• Issuing Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport to permanent residents who are Chinese citizens
• Issuing Hong Kong Document of Identity for Visa Purposes for HK residents who can obtain neither a national passport nor Hong Kong passport.^[5]

Directors of the Immigration Department (Since 1 July 1997)

• Erick Tsang Kwok-wai (2016-present)
• Eric Chan, (2011-2016)
• Simon Peh, (2008-2011)
• Lai Tung-kwok, (2002-2008)
• Ambrose Lee, (1998 to 2002)
• Regina Ip (July 1997 to 1998)

Application for British National (Overseas) Passport

Prior to the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, the Immigration Department was responsible for processing BN(O) passport applications. After the handover, the UK Government then took over the issue of BN(O) passport.^[6]

Ranks

Immigration Tower

As with all of the HK Disciplined Services, British-pattern ranks and insignia continue to be utilised, the only change being the exchange of the St. Edward's Crown for the Bauhinia Flower crest post-1997. The ranks are listed below with their UK equivalences in brackets:

• Director of Immigration (General)
• Deputy Director of Immigration (Lieutenant-General)
• Assistant Director of Immigration (Major-General)
• Senior Principal Immigration Officer (Colonel)
• Principal Immigration Officer (Lieutenant-Colonel)
• Assistant Principal Immigration Officer (Major)
• Chief Immigration Officer (Captain)
• Senior Immigration Officer (Lieutenant with a silver bar beneath)
• Immigration Officer (Lieutenant)
• Immigration Officer (Probationary) (Second Lieutenant) (with effect from 19 April 2010)
• Assistant Immigration Officer (Second Lieutenant) (discontinued in November 1998)
• Chief Immigration Assistant (three silver bars)
• Senior Immigration Assistant (two silver bars)
• Immigration Assistant (silver bar)^[7]

List of notable activists refused entry to Hong Kong

See also

• Visa policy of Hong Kong
• Hong Kong Police Force
• Marine Region
• Immigration Ordinance

References

Order of precedence

External links

• Official website
• Organisation chart of Hong Kong Government