That's smart: Deputy Director of Immigration Eric Wong showing one of the draft designs of the future Smart Identity Card.

The Government will introduce a Multi-Application Smart Identity Card and start to issue it to all Hong Kong residents in mid 2003. It aims to complete the replacement exercise within four years.

"The new Smart ID Card will incorporate the latest state-of-the-art technology with high security features. It is certainly more secure when compared with the existing one we are using," said the Deputy Director of  Immigration (Smart Identity Card) Eric Wong.

Mr Wong said all personal immigration data presently stored in the existing ID card would be included in the new Smart ID Card. The only additional data would be the templates of both thumbprints of the card holders. Temporary residents' conditions of stay would also be stored.

"It would use a durable and secure base material and utilise laser engraving technology for card production to ensure, together with a combination of physical card security features, that the card will be highly secure and fraud-resistant.

"Data engraved in the card surface and held in the chip can prevent lost or stolen ID cards from being altered or used by other people. Those who try to alter it, they may as well damage the entire card," said Mr Wong.

"In addition, templates of both thumbprints are stored as a set of figures which cannot be used to reconstruct the thumbprints."

"So there is no way that unauthorised people can steal the data from the Smart ID Card," Mr Wong stressed.

Other benefits of the new Smart ID card include faster travel and greater convenience.

"As the card holder's facial image and the template of two thumbprints will be captured and stored in the chip to facilitate secure authentication of the card holder's identity, it paves the way for future introduction of an automated passenger clearance system which will help reduce the queuing time at immigration control points.

"Apart from storing immigration data, the Smart ID Card also carries a special feature that card holders are allowed to have a free and non-discriminatory choice on other non-immigration, value-added applications, such as digital certificate, library card and driving licence."

"Card holders would certainly benefit from the convenience of using one card for various functions," said Mr Wong.

Mr Wong said the whole project would cost about $2.8 billion and the Immigration Department would need to recruit 850 staff for the whole replacement exercise.

"If all goes well, we shall be able to issue the first Smart ID Card in May 2003 and commence the region-wide ID card replacement exercise in July 2003. The replacement exercise is scheduled to be completed within four years." added Mr Wong.