Immigration Department
{{short description|Hong Kong government department for immigration affairs}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{For|the Malaysian federal government agency|Immigration Department of Malaysia}}{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name = Immigration Department
| nativename = {{lang|zh-HK|入境事務處}}
| seal = HK Immigration Logo.svg
| seal_width = 180px
| formed = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1961|8|4}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200611/30/P200611300237.htm |title=Press Release |access-date=25 March 2009 |archive-date=10 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310081409/http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200611/30/P200611300237.htm |url-status=live }}
| jurisdiction = Hong Kong
| headquarters = Immigration Headquarters,
61 Po Yap Road, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories, Hong Kong
| employees = 6,569
| minister1_name = Chris Tang
| minister1_pfo = Secretary for Security
| chief1_name = Benson Kwok
| chief1_position = Director
| website = {{URL|https://immd.gov.hk}}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| order = ts
| showflag =
| t = 入境事務處
| s = 入境事务处
| j = Jap6 ging2 si6 mou6 cyu3
| y = Yahp gíng sih mouh chyu
| p = Rùjìng Shìwù Chù
| altname = Pre-handover Name
| t2 = 人民入境事務處
| s2 = 人民入境事务处
| j2 = Jan4 man4 jap6 ging2 si6 mou6 cyu3
| y2 = Yàhn màhn yahp gíng sih mouh chyu
| p2 = Rénmín Rùjìng Shìwù Chù
}}
{{Politics of Hong Kong}}
The Immigration Department is a disciplined service under the Government of Hong Kong, responsible for immigration control of Hong Kong.
After the handover of Hong Kong to China in July 1997, Hong Kong's immigration system remained largely unchanged from its British predecessor model. Residents from mainland China do not have the right of abode in Hong Kong, nor can they enter the territory freely, both before and after 1997. There are different regulations that apply to residents of Macau, another Special Administrative Region of China. In addition, visa-free entry acceptance regulations into Hong Kong for passport holders of some 170 countries remain unchanged before and after 1997.
In a special arrangement, although Hong Kong's residents of Chinese descent are defined as citizens of the People's Republic of China, as stipulated by the Basic Law, Hong Kong's Immigration Department is responsible for issuing Hong Kong SAR passports for Hong Kong residents who are also PRC citizens seeking international travel.
History
Image:Flag of Immigration Department, 1988-1997.gif
Image:Badge of Immigration Department, 1988-1997.gif
Prior to the 1950s, immigration to Hong Kong was not controlled by the government of Hong Kong and migrants freely entered Hong Kong. By the end of World War II, the influx of migrants from China to Hong Kong to flee Communist rule resulted in immigration control.
From 1949 to 1961, registration of persons with identification was required under the Registration of Persons Ordinance 1949 and established a Commissioner of Registration.
Until the establishment of Immigration Department on 4 August 1961, immigration control in Hong Kong was handled by the Hong Kong Police Force.{{Cite web |url=http://www.jsscs.gov.hk/reports/en/rcds_pre/report/rcds_pre_eng_ch02.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 March 2009 |archive-date=20 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020123247/http://www.jsscs.gov.hk/reports/en/rcds_pre/report/rcds_pre_eng_ch02.pdf |url-status=live }} The Immigration Service Ordinance 1961 created the new department in charge of immigration control. Later in 1977, the department enlarged its functions to cover registration of persons by amalgamating with the Registration of Persons Office and Director of Immigration also assumed as Commissioner of Registration.{{Cite web |url=http://www.immd.gov.hk/a_report/ehtml/chapter03_40a.html |title=Registration of Persons Department |access-date=25 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703054355/http://www.immd.gov.hk/a_report/ehtml/chapter03_40a.html |archive-date=3 July 2009 |url-status=dead }} In 1979, the department took over from the Registrar General civil registration duties and the Director of Immigration was appointed as Registrar of Births and Deaths, and Registrar of Marriages.
In 1975 - 1980s, Hong Kong government received up to 200,000 Vietnamese refugees with impacts on the economy, security, society, and searched for solutions.{{Cite web |title=世界最後一個越南難民中心關閉標誌歷史新紀元 |trans-title=The closure of the last Vietnamese refugee center in the world marks a new era in history |url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200007/17/0717289.htm |author=Regina Ip |date=17 July 2000 |access-date=20 October 2022 |publisher=Security Bureau (Hong Kong) |location=Hong Kong}} In the early 1987, one of the accommodated refugee boats received the assistance of the Immigration Department to depart to continue sailing. It arrived in Kinmen to apply for the asylum, but was rejected by the ROC military, then was slaughtered on the Lieyu Island on March 7. The boat was burnt with evidence destroyed, and the Hong Kong government-issued documents were hidden to cover up, later the ROC Ministry of National Defense repeatedly denied on the journalists' reportages and the parliament questioning, until being exposed by the publication of General Hau Pei-tsun's diary in 2000, known as the Lieyu Massacre.{{cite book |last=Hau |first=Pei-tsun |title=八年參謀總長日記 |trans-title=8-year Diary of the Chief of the General Staff (1981–1989) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2WKCAAAAIAAJ |publisher=Commonwealth Publishing |date=1 January 2000 |isbn=9576216389 |language=zh-TW |location=Taipei}}{{cite book |last=Guan |first=Ren-jian |url=https://www.books.com.tw/products/0010516575 |title=你不知道的台灣 國軍故事 |trans-title=The Taiwan you don't know: Stories of ROC Arm Forces |date=1 September 2011 |isbn=9789576636493 |publisher=Puomo Digital Publishing |access-date=20 October 2022 |language=zh-TW |location=Taipei}}{{Cite web|title=111司調0025 調查報告 |trans-title=2022 Justice Investigation Report No. 0025 |url=https://www.cy.gov.tw/CyBsBoxContent.aspx?n=133&s=17946 |last=Gao |first=Yong-cheng |date=13 July 2022 |access-date=7 August 2022 |publisher=Control Yuan |language=zh-TW |location=Taipei}}
Prior to the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, the Immigration Department was responsible for processing BN(O) passport applications, which is now handled by the government of the United Kingdom.{{cite web |title=British national (overseas) |url=https://www.gov.uk/types-of-british-nationality/british-national-overseas |website=GOV.UK |access-date=14 March 2020 |archive-date=10 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210124054/https://www.gov.uk/types-of-british-nationality/british-national-overseas |url-status=live }}
In 2019, the department stopped allowing people to search birth or marital records without the consent of those being searched.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-26|title=Press freedom fears as Hong Kong to tighten access to 2 official databases|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3153652/2-hong-kong-government-databases-tighten-access-rules|access-date=2021-10-26|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}
The department is headquartered in the Immigration Tower in Wan Chai North.
Roles
Image:Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development.jpg and Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development in Castle Peak Bay, Tuen Mun]]
The department performs the following roles:
- Immigration control at the checkpoints (Hong Kong International Airport as well as Mainland-Hong Kong port of entry)
- HK Resident Affairs (by Division of Registration of Persons)
- Issuing Hong Kong identity card (both permanent and non-permanent)
- Birth registration
- Death certification
- Marriage certification
- Registering/Denouncing Chinese citizenship
- Naturalization of HK permanent residents who wish to be Chinese citizens
- Issuing Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport to permanent residents who are Chinese citizens
- Issuing Hong Kong Document of Identity for Visa Purposes for HK residents who can obtain neither a national passport nor Hong Kong passport.{{cite web|url=http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hktraveldoc.htm|title=Hong Kong Travel Documents|access-date=11 November 2012|archive-date=17 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117001722/http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hktraveldoc.htm|url-status=live}}
Directors
{{main|Director of Immigration}}
The incumbent Director of Immigration is Benson Kwok, who took office in September 2023.
Ranks
As with all of the HK Disciplined Services, British-pattern ranks and insignia continue to be utilised, the only change being the exchange of the St. Edward's Crown for the Bauhinia Flower crest post-1997. The ranks and insignia are listed below with their UK equivalences:
| class="wikitable"
! Rank !! UK Equivalent !! Insignia{{Cite web |url=http://www.immd.gov.hk/a_report_09-10/eng/appendice/index01.htm |title=Immigration Department Annual Report 2009-2010 |access-date=9 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216010104/http://www.immd.gov.hk/a_report_09-10/eng/appendice/index01.htm |archive-date=16 February 2011 |url-status=dead }} | |||
| Director of Immigration (入境事務處處長) | General | 100px | |
| Deputy Director of Immigration (入境事務處副處長） | Lieutenant-General | 100px | |
| Assistant Director of Immigration (入境事務處助理處長 | Major-General | 100px | |
| Senior Principal Immigration Officer (高級首席入境事務主任） | Colonel | 100px | |
| Principal Immigration Officer (首席入境事務主任） | Lieutenant-Colonel | 100px | |
| Assistant Principal Immigration Officer (助理首席入境事務主任） | Major | 100px | |
| Chief Immigration Officer (總入境事務主任） | Captain | 100px | |
| Senior Immigration Officer (高級入境事務主任） | Lieutenant with a silver bar beneath | 100px | |
| Immigration Officer (入境事務主任） | Lieutenant | 100px | |
| Immigration Officer (Probationary) (入境事務主任 [見習] (with effect from 19 April 2010) | Second Lieutenant | 100px | |
| Chief Immigration Assistant (總入境事務助理員） | Three silver bars | 100px | |
| Senior Immigration Assistant (高級入境事務助理員） | Two silver bars | 100px | |
| Immigration Assistant (入境事務助理員） | One silver bar | 100px |
Visa delays and denials
In February 2024, the Immigration Department announced that all visa applicants would be subject to a national security risk test.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-08 |title=Hong Kong introduces national security risk test for all visa applicants |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251453/hong-kong-immigration-department-introduces-national-security-risk-test-all-visa-applicants |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}
= Taiwan =
In 2005, Ma Ying-jeou was denied a visa by the Immigration Department, despite being born in Hong Kong.{{Cite news|date=2005-01-05|title=HK denial of visa to Taipei mayor may backfire|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/a413fedc-5eec-11d9-8cca-00000e2511c8|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211231248/https://www.ft.com/content/a413fedc-5eec-11d9-8cca-00000e2511c8|archive-date=11 December 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-11}}
In July 2020, TECO's highest officer in Hong Kong, Kao Ming-tsun, was not granted a renewal of his work visa by the Hong Kong government because he refused to sign a statement supporting the "One China" principle.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-17|title=Taiwan official leaves Hong Kong after refusing to sign 'One China' statement - report|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2020/07/17/taiwan-official-leaves-hong-kong-after-refusing-to-sign-one-china-statement-report/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718001246/https://hongkongfp.com/2020/07/17/taiwan-official-leaves-hong-kong-after-refusing-to-sign-one-china-statement-report/|archive-date=18 July 2020|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP|language=en-GB}} The Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan mentioned that other government representatives in TECO had experienced major visa delays from the Hong Kong government as well.
= Journalists =
Since 2018, visas for some journalists have been declined by the Immigration Department, including New York Times journalist Chris Buckley and Hong Kong Free Press
In November 2021, a journalist from The Economist was not granted a renewed visa.{{Cite web|last=Grundy|first=Tom|date=2021-11-13|title=Hong Kong ousts Economist journalist Sue-Lin Wong without explanation, in latest blow to press freedom|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2021/11/13/hong-kong-ousts-economist-journalist-sue-lin-wong-without-explanation-in-latest-blow-to-press-freedom/|access-date=2021-11-13|website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP|language=en-GB}}
In June 2023, Yoshiaki Ogawa was denied entry upon landing into Hong Kong.{{Cite web |last=Mok |first=Lea |title=Japanese journalist who covered the 2019 protests denied entry to Hong Kong - reports - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2023/07/03/japanese-journalist-who-covered-the-2019-protests-denied-entry-to-hong-kong-reports/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=hongkongfp.com |language=en-GB}}
In April 2024, a person from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) was searched multiple times at the airport before being denied entry into Hong Kong.{{Cite web |last=Grundy |first=Tom |date=2024-04-10 |title=Reporters Without Borders rep. denied entry to HK, NGO says |url=http://hongkongfp.com/2024/04/10/breaking-reporters-without-borders-rep-denied-entry-to-hong-kong-ngo-says-after-6-hour-detention-searches-at-airport/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP |language=en-GB}}
In August 2024, journalist Haze Fan was denied a visa to work in Hong Kong.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=James |date=2024-08-20 |title=Hong Kong denies journalist Haze Fan a visa, Bloomberg tells staff |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2024/08/20/hong-kong-denies-journalist-haze-fan-a-visa-following-detention-in-china-bloomberg-tells-staff/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP |language=en-GB}}
= Others =
In February 2020, Elizabeth Ward, Australia's new Consul-General to Hong Kong and Macau, was unable to take up her post due to visa delays, which was attributed to political tensions between Australia and China.{{Cite web|date=2020-04-01|title=Hong Kong delays visa approval for top Australian diplomat|url=https://www.afr.com/world/asia/hong-kong-delays-visa-approval-for-top-australian-diplomat-20200401-p54g22|access-date=2021-03-18|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303184419/https://www.afr.com/world/asia/hong-kong-delays-visa-approval-for-top-australian-diplomat-20200401-p54g22|url-status=live}} In October, she was officially appointed.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-04|title=Former Hong Kong-Australia free trade negotiator named top envoy to city|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3104116/former-hong-kong-australia-free-trade-negotiator-officially|access-date=2021-03-18|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505094914/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3104116/former-hong-kong-australia-free-trade-negotiator-officially|url-status=live}}
In September 2021, SCMP reported that the department denied visas to dozens of Cathay Pacific pilots.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-25|title=Hong Kong denies work visas to dozens of Cathay pilots seeking to relocate|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3150121/hong-kong-denies-work-visas-dozens-cathay-pacific-pilots|access-date=2021-09-25|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}
In November 2022, the department withheld the visa of Tim Owen, the lawyer of choice for Jimmy Lai.{{Cite web |last=Chau |first=Candice |date=2022-12-01 |title=Media tycoon Jimmy Lai's trial adjourned to Dec 13, Hong Kong Immigration withholds visa extension for his lawyer |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2022/12/01/media-tycoon-jimmy-lais-trial-adjourned-to-dec-13-hong-kong-immigration-withholds-visa-extension-for-his-lawyer/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP |language=en-GB}} In December 2022, the visa was rejected.{{Cite web |last=Chau |first=Candice |date=2022-12-13 |title=National security trial against media tycoon Jimmy Lai adjourned until September 2023 |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2022/12/13/breaking-national-security-trial-against-media-tycoon-jimmy-lai-adjourned-until-september-2023/ |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP |language=en-GB}}
In December 2022, freelance photographer Michiko Kiseki was not allowed into the city, after hosting an exhibition of photos from the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests.{{Cite web |last=Grundy |first=Tom |title=Hong Kong criticised for barring protest photographer Michiko Kiseki from city - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2023/01/16/hong-kong-criticised-for-barring-protest-photographer-michiko-kiseki-from-city/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=hongkongfp.com |date=15 January 2023 |language=en-GB}}
In August 2023 and earlier in January 2020, photographer Matthew Connors was denied entry after landing in Hong Kong.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-29 |title=US photography professor who covered 2019 protests says Hong Kong denied him entry, suspects he is 'on a list' |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2023/08/29/us-photography-professor-who-covered-2019-protests-says-hong-kong-denied-him-entry-suspects-he-is-on-a-list/ |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=Hong Kong Free Press |language=en-GB}}
In October 2023, professor He Xiao-qing, who studies the Tiananmen square massacre, was denied an extension of her visa.{{Cite web |last=Chan |first=Irene |title=Chinese University fires Tiananmen crackdown scholar after Hong Kong gov't rejects visa extension - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2023/10/30/chinese-university-fires-tiananmen-crackdown-scholar-after-hong-kong-govt-rejects-visa-extension/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=hongkongfp.com |language=en-GB}}
In January 2024, Hong Kong removed citizens of Eswatini from visa-free access into Hong Kong, and when asked if it was because of Eswatini's official ties to Taiwan, the Hong Kong government said "The Immigration Department reviews its visa policy from time to time and makes adjustments as necessary to uphold immigration control while facilitating travel convenience for genuine visitors."{{Cite web |last=Grundy |first=Tom |title=Hong Kong axes visa-free travel for Eswatini nationals |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2024/01/25/hong-kong-axes-visa-free-travel-for-eswatini-nationals-affecting-dozens-of-visitors-from-taiwans-sole-african-ally/ |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=hongkongfp.com |date=25 January 2024 |language=en-GB}}
=List of notable activists refused entry to Hong Kong=
The department is also tasked with preventing visits by prominent foreign human rights and democracy advocates, upon the direction of either the city or the mainland government.{{cite news |date=14 January 2020 |title=Why China's move to bar Human Rights Watch chief from Hong Kong was contrary to the city's Basic Law |newspaper=Hong Kong Free Press |url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2020/01/14/chinas-move-bar-human-rights-watch-chief-hong-kong-contrary-citys-basic-law/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114223601/https://www.hongkongfp.com/2020/01/14/chinas-move-bar-human-rights-watch-chief-hong-kong-contrary-citys-basic-law/ |archive-date=14 January 2020}}{{incomplete list|date=September 2019}}
See also
{{Portal bar|Hong Kong|Politics}}
References
{{reflist}}
Order of precedence
{{s-start}}
{{order of precedence |
before= Hong Kong Police Force |
title= Immigration Department (Hong Kong) since 1961 |
after=
}}
{{s-end}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website}}
- [http://www.gov.hk/en/about/govdirectory/govchart/index.htm Organisation chart of Hong Kong Government]
{{Government of Hong Kong}}
{{Law enforcement in Hong Kong}}
{{HKIA}}
{{Security Bureau (Hong Kong)}}
{{Border guards}}
{{China national security}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Hong Kong government departments and agencies