HK Visitors can now use the automated immigration clearance in Australia
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Automated Immigration clearance in Australia for Hong Kong Travelers!
There is no more need for Hong Kong Travelers to register in advance so they can use the electronic channels in Australia, and this is all going to happen for the first time.
Visitors from Hong Kong are now allowed to use the country’s automated immigration clearance system at all of Australia’s international airports starting Monday. They will no longer be asked to register in advance to do so.
Also, Australians who will be going to Hong Kong will also now be able to use an e-channel system starting Monday however, according to local immigration officials, they are still going to be asked to register in the city when they arrive.
The assistant director for information systems at Hong Kong’s Immigration Department, Mr Raymond Lok Wai-man, stated that the face recognition technology being used by their Australian counterpart meant that the residents of Hong Kong will no longer be required to register prior to their visit to the Land Down Under.
Hong Kong has made immigration deals with countries such as South Korea, Singapore, Germany, and Australia so travel can be streamlined, and the first of the 4 countries mentioned not to require the residents of Hong Kong registration prior to using the automated clearance system is Australia.
”The chip in the passports contains the holders’ details,” Mr Lok said, noting that there are now several countries all over the world that are using the technology.
”But Hong Kong authorities rely on fingerprint technology,” Mr Lok further said. ”We need to confirm passport holders’ identity to see if they fulfil immigration requirements before using our fast lane.”
The 10th largest tourism market in Australia is Hong Kong, with most of the visitors travelling to the country either to visit relatives or to simply go on holiday. In 2015, there were 230,000 Hongkongers who came to Australia for a visit while it was reported that 590,000 Australians travelled to Hong Kong over the same period.
Mr Lok is hoping that the new measures are going to be of more convenience to travellers from both countries, noting the strong economic ties between Hong Kong and Australia, as well as Australia’s popularity among Hongkongers.
Hong Kong residents who are owners of valid passports can stay in Australia for a maximum of 90 days without the need of a visa. However, prior to their arrival in the country, they are going to have to submit an application to acquire a document that is called an Electronic Travel Authority.
Starting Monday, Hong Kong residents who are owners of valid passports aged 16 and above, who also have no unfavourable records in Australia will now be allowed to use the SmartGate service at international airports in the following Australian cities upon their arrival:
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Adelaide
- Brisbane
- Cairns
- Darwin
- the Gold Coast, and
- Perth
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Upon entry to the SmartGate service, a ticket will be issued at an Australian immigration kiosk. Travellers will then be ushered to the next step which is the facial identity verification. To complete the process, the ticket along with a completed arrival card must be returned to immigration staff.
There is no arrival stamp that will be affixed to the passport, as it is no longer going to be presented this time. Mr Lok cannot provide an estimate on how long the new procedures are going to take compared to the traditional way of doing things.
Aside from that, Hong Kong passport holders who stand more than 120cm (approximately 47 inches) tall, when they are about to leave Australia, can use the SmartGate service at Australia’s international airports in Brisbane, Darwin, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth.
Mr Paul Tighe, the Australian consul general, stated that the automated clearance service would let travellers from Hong Kong to move through the border clearance more efficiently and quickly.
”This also means that our Border Force officers can focus on detecting unlawful activity at the border,” Mr Tighe said.
Valid passport holders of Hong Kong are given a maximum of 90 days to stay in Australia visa free. However, a document called the Electronic Travel Authority needs to be acquired prior to their arrival in Australia. Australians can also stay in Hong Kong without a visa for the same number of days.
Source: www.scmp.com
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