When did the ImmiD start offering e-services?
The embryonic stage of our e-services commenced in 1996 when our departmental home page provided information to the public online. Since December 2000, we have participated in the Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) scheme to facilitate members of the public with access to online immigration services. Over 80 percent of the appointment booking of our New Identity Card Issuing Offices are now done online.

In addition, we have taken up the responsibility for maintaining the immigration cluster of the GovHK, which is a one-stop portal of the government of the HKSAR. GovHK makes it easier for users to get information and services from the public sector in Hong Kong.

How successful has the department been in its e-government efforts, and how does the department deal with online security risks?
Through our e-government efforts, we have shortened waiting time for customers. For instance, customers no longer have to wait in long queues to make appointments to register their marriage on auspicious days.

The public can also search and retrieve the data they need from our site more quickly.

As for security, all our critical systems are closed systems and are deployed in compliance with the Hong Kong's Government Security Regulations and Guidelines.

The Smart Identity Card Information System was launched in 2003. How has the response been like, and what are some of the privacy and safety measures implemented?
Since its implementation in 2003, we have received more than 1,000 letters of appreciation from Hong Kong residents. The system has brought a revolutionary change to the fabric of our residents' daily lives, and has laid a solid foundation for the delivery of e-government services.

With its implementation, each and every resident will have the opportunity to directly experience the application of advanced IT, thus enhancing the population's awareness of the benefit of such technologies.

Smart identity cardholders can also enjoy a variety of public services through the Internet or by making use of the self-service e-channels for immigration clearance.

In addition, the system has also won five awards from different organizations in recognition of the application of IT and provision of quality services to the public.

To ensure the public has adequate privacy and safety, we have conducted privacy impact assessment, security audit and privacy audit on our systems.

Some countries are moving toward biometric passports. Has Hong Kong rolled out e-passports, and what is being done to counter security and privacy risks?
No, but we will start issuing e-passports very soon--in early 2007. Hong Kong's e-passport will contain a contactless chip in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations for global interoperability.

Personalized data will be secured on the chips by employing Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology, such as digital signature for further enhancing the security level.

To counter security and privacy risks, the backend system will be protected in our closed mission-critical network and will not be connected directly to other systems.

How would you rank your department, amongst other Asian countries' immigration departments, in terms of the maturity of its IT adoption?
Technologies such as biometrics, smart card, communication, electronic, electrical and mechanic engineering, used in the ISS have transformed the Hong Kong Immigration Department into one of the most mature IT application organization.

However, it would be rather subjective if I were to just give you a ranking. Instead, I think it would be better for the public to rank us. The following are some feedback from our counterparts in recognition of our information and communications technology (ICT) efforts for a more objective view.

David Merz, director of international business relations at Australia's Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, said he was amazed to see how the Hong Kong ImmD can efficiently handle the processing of 320,000 people per day at the borders, by a system relying heavily on facial and fingerprint recognition technology. This equals to approximately the population of the Australian city of Canberra traveling across one border-crossing every day.

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