Details of third cycle of Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise
20.11.2019

The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (November 20) that the third cycle of the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise will commence on February 18, 2020. The Secretary for Security has made an Amendment Order to announce the details of the third cycle of the Replacement Exercise. Subject to the negative vetting procedure of the Legislative Council, the arrangement will be as follows: Eligible Persons Application Period Holders of existing Hong Kong Identity Cards (HKICs) born in 1960 or 1961 February 18 - April 20, 2020 Holders of existing HKICs born in 1962 or 1963 April 21 - June 24, 2020 Holders of existing HKICs born in 1970, 1971 or 1972 June 26 - September 16, 2020 Holders of existing HKICs born in 1973 or 1974 September 17 - November 13, 2020 Holders of existing HKICs born in 1975 or 1976 November 14, 2020 - January 8, 2021 "From the third cycle onwards (i.e. February 18, 2020), ImmD will implement a new facilitation measure for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). An eligible applicant may bring along up to two PwDs, in addition to bringing along up to two elderly persons aged 65 or above under the existing facilitation measure, to replace HKICs during the same visit", an ImmD spokesman said. PwDs who are interested to apply HKICs together with eligible applicants under the aforementioned new measure only need to bring along their existing smart HKICs and provide relevant documentation or information to ImmD as proof of their PwD identity upon replacement. Examples include Registration Card for People with Disabilities issued by the Labour and Welfare Bureau, information or documents showing that the applicant is a recipient of Disability Allowance, proofs on membership of PwDs service units subvented by the Social Welfare Department, proofs on student status of special schools or medical proof (e.g. patients' follow-up record, etc.). It is worth noting that HKIC holders born in 2008 to 2011 or 2001 to 2004 will respectively reach the age of 11 or 18 during the Replacement Exercise (i.e. from 2019 to 2022). These HKIC holders are required to apply for a juvenile or adult HKIC at one of the Registration of Persons Offices within 30 days upon attaining the age of 11 or 18 respectively and need not replace their HKICs under the replacement exercise. "Moreover, eligible members of the sixth term of District Council (DC) may apply for new HKICs from February 18, 2020 to April 20, 2020, so that DC members could familiarise themselves with the HKIC replacement procedures at the earliest possible time and be able to provide assistance to members of the public during the Replacement Exercise as necessary." the ImmD spokesman added. The ImmD spokesman also reminded the public that the second cycle of the Replacement Exercise will end on February 17, 2020. Eligible applicants of the second cycle who have not replaced their HKICs are reminded to apply for the new HKICs at the Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres (at Annex) as early as possible. The replacement exercise covers all Hong Kong residents, including permanent residents; and non-permanent residents for employment (including foreign domestic helpers), investment, residence or study. If eligible Hong Kong residents are absent from Hong Kong during their call-up periods, they need not rush back to Hong Kong to replace their identity cards. They can apply within 30 days upon their return to Hong Kong. Eligible applicants may make appointment bookings via the Internet ( www.gov.hk/newicbooking ), the ImmD mobile application or the 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2121 1234. To enjoy a faster registration process, applicants are encouraged to pre-fill the application form when making appointment bookings through the Internet or mobile application. For details of the replacement exercise, please visit the website www.smartid.gov.hk or call the ImmD's enquiry hotline at 2824 6111.