With the territory-wide Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise entering its final phase, the Hong Kong Immigration Department announced on 13 July that four Registration of Persons Offices—in Wan Chai, Sham Shui Po, Kwun Tong and Tuen Mun—will extend service hours to 10 p.m. in the coming weeks. The smart-ID programme, launched in 2018, has already issued about 7.9 million new cards. Officials reminded the public that the dedicated Smart ID Replacement Centres will close on 3 March 2027; after that date, outstanding applicants must visit the regular offices. The government currently has no plan to invalidate old cards immediately, but holders living overseas may face travel inconvenience if they delay renewal beyond a 30-day stay in Hong Kong. For global mobility managers the extended hours offer extra appointment slots for assignees and their dependants who are yet to update their IDs—an essential prerequisite for opening bank accounts, leasing property and completing work-permit formalities. Employers should communicate the new timetable and encourage staff to book evening sessions to avoid daytime queues. Overseas Hongkongers returning for short business trips may take advantage of the grace period but should schedule renewal during their stay to forestall complications at e-Channel gates. HR departments should also note that the existing Identity Card Number remains unchanged, so payroll and tax records do not require amendment once the new smart card is collected. The Immigration Department said it would allocate additional resources to handle the year-end surge and reiterated that appointment bookings can be made online or via the ‘ImmD Smart App’.
Source: HKSAR.org
