The Immigration Department today implemented the Advance Passenger Information System, which requires aircraft operators to comply with the Immigration (Advance Passenger Information) Regulation by transmitting to the department advance information about flights and passengers heading to Hong Kong.

The department said the arrangement allows Hong Kong to meet the Convention on International Civil Aviation’s aviation security requirements and to align the city with other aviation hubs worldwide. It added that it enhances the department’s passenger clearance and enforcement capabilities, allowing it to prevent undesirables, including potential non-refoulement claimants, from boarding flights heading to Hong Kong.

The department explained that during check-in for Hong Kong-bound flights, aircraft operators will capture the required advance passenger information from travellers’ travel documents and transmit the data for each traveller, along with aircraft information, to the system.

The system will instantly process the information and provide a response message for each traveller back to the aircraft operator. Messages will direct operators to allow or not allow specific travellers to board the aircraft.

To allow sufficient time for over 100 aircraft operators to connect to the system and ensure it runs in a smooth and orderly manner, the rollout will be carried out in phases, the department added.

A transitional period of around 12 months will also be adopted. The offences and defences, and the miscellaneous provisions under Parts 4 and 5 of the regulation will come into effect after the transitional period.

The department stressed that the freedom to travel and the right of Hong Kong residents to enter or leave Hong Kong are guaranteed under Article 31 of the Basic Law and Article 8 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.

It added that such freedoms and rights are not affected by the system’s implementation and that the system will not issue a no-board direction against Hong Kong permanent residents who enjoy the right of abode in Hong Kong.