Press Release - September 2, 2003

Holders of existing Hong Kong identity cards residing in Canada who were born in 1968 or 1969 were today (September 2) reminded that September 15 to November 15, 2003 is the period for their age groups to apply for the new Smart ID cards under the Hong Kong Smart ID Card Replacement Exercise.

Issuing the reminder, a spokesman for the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO) said: �Eligible Hong Kong residents who are in Canada and absent from Hong Kong during the call-up period need not to rush back solely for the purpose of applying for the Smart ID cards.

If they have missed their turn, they can apply for the new Smart ID card within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong.

"Starting from today, eligible applicants, who choose to return to Hong Kong for the ID card replacement, can book an appointment by telephone at (852) 1838 333, via the ESDlife website: www.esd.gov.hk," the HKETO spokesman said.

"Eligible applicants are encouraged to book an appointment in advance if they want to ensure that a quota is available at the Smart ID Card Centre of their choice, particularly during rush periods in the evening or on Saturday."

Eligible applicants must submit their applications at one of the Smart ID Card Centres, which are open from Monday to Saturday from 8am to 9.15pm.
Addresses and telephone numbers of the Smart ID Card Centres are:

Hong Kong Smart ID Card Centre
Tel: (852) 2834 4717
6th Floor, Elizabeth House,
250-254 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
(Causeway Bay MTR Station - Exit C)

East Kowloon Smart ID Card Centre
Tel: (852) 2759 5102
1st Floor, World Trade Square,
123 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong
(Ngau Tau Kok MTR Station - Exit B6)

West Kowloon Smart ID Card Centre
Tel: (852) 2368 5454
Lower Ground Floor, Tsim Sha Tsui Centre,
66 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East

Tsuen Wan Smart ID Card Centre
Tel: (852) 2149 5040
2nd Floor, Smartland, 36 - 60 Texaco Road,
Tai Wo Hau, Tsuen Wan
(Tai Wo Hau MTR Station - Exit B)

Sha Tin Smart ID Card Centre
Tel: (852) 2634 0965
13th Floor, Tower II, Grand Central Plaza,
138 Sha Tin Rural Committee Road, Sha Tin
(Sha Tin Railway Station - Exit B)

Sheung Shui Smart ID Card Centre
Tel: (852) 2672 2644
13th Floor, Landmark North, 39 Lung Sum Avenue, Sheung Shui
(Sheung Shui Railway Station - Exit B)

Tuen Mun Smart ID Card Centre
Tel: (852) 2404 6867
1st Floor, Rosedale Gardens, 133 Castle Peak Road,
San Hui, Tuen Mun
(Light Rail - Hoh Fuk Tong Station)

Yuen Long Smart ID Card Centre
Tel: (852) 2146 1990
Basement 1, Kingswood Ginza (Shopping Arcade),
18 Tin Yan Road (Phase 2), Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long
(Light Rail - Tin Shui Wai Terminus)

Tseung Kwan O Smart ID Card Centre
Tel: (852) 2274 4797
Shop No. B7-B10, Podium Level 1, Nan Fung Plaza,
8 Pui Shing Road, Tseung Kwan O
(Hang Hau MTR Station - Exit B2)

"Only persons born in 1968 or 1969 are eligible to apply during the call-up period. Those who do not belong to these age groups should watch for further public announcements," the spokesman emphasised. "The Smart ID Card Centres will only deal with applications arising from the ID Card Replacement Exercise. Applications not related to the exercise will continue to be dealt with at the Registration of Persons Offices."

The spokesman also took the opportunity to clarify a rumour that people not holding an existing Hong Kong ID card could apply for a new Smart ID card.

�There is absolutely no truth in such a rumour. Hong Kong citizens who are residing in Canada should bring along their existing Hong Kong ID cards and supporting proofs showing their period of absence from Hong Kong when they apply for the new ID card.�

For further information on the Hong Kong ID Card Replacement Exercise, please contact the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) at (416) 924 5544 or visit the HKETO website: www.hketo.ca, or consult the HKSAR Immigration Department by phone at (852) 2824 6111, by fax at (852) 2877 7711, or through the Internet at www.smartid.gov.hk.