| Hong Kong Certificate of Identity | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 香港身份證明書 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
The Hong Kong Certificate of Identity (CI) was a formal travel document and passport,issued by the Hong Kong Government's Immigration Department until 30 June 1997 (See transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong). It is no longer possible to possess a valid CI as a travel document,as all CIs have expired by 30 June 2007,though most CI holders should be eligible to hold the HKSAR Passport.
 |
Certificates of Identity were issued to Hong Kong permanent residents who did not hold and could not obtain any valid travel documents for overseas travel. For example, permanent residents who were citizens of People's Republic of China (PRC) could obtain neither their Chinese passports unless they held hukou registration in Mainland China, nor their British passports unless they naturalized as British citizens or British Dependent Territories citizens tied in Hong Kong. Such persons could be issued CI in lieu of the national passport. CI were not used to enter the PRC (Mainland China) or Portuguese Macau, and other means of travel documents and/or entry permits were required.
Normally, CI were valid for 10 years.
Since establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on 1 July 1997, no more CI were issued. Those already issued remained valid for travel until expiry (which may pass beyond 30 June 1997; as CIs were valid for a maximum of 10 years), none of which past 30 June 2007. CI holders who are PRC citizens are now eligible for Hong Kong passport.
Most (but not all) former CI holders were solely People's Republic of China (PRC) citizens. Many of them were immigrants from mainland China who had acquired the right of abode in Hong Kong. They did not co-hold any type of British nationality (See British nationality law and Hong Kong for details pertaining to various kinds of British nationalities). Before the handover, they were not eligible for any kinds of PRC passports. The PRC only issued Home Return Permit for them to enter mainland China only. If they did not choose to acquire British nationality through naturalisation, they could apply for the CI as a travel document from the colonial Hong Kong Government.
Travel abroad was very difficult for CI holders, because CI was not a proof of nationality, in contrast with passport, thus rendering CI holders practically "stateless", even when most of them were Chinese nationals. [1] [2] [3] Most countries and territories required CI holders to obtain visas before travelling.
After the handover, all Hong Kong permanent residents with PRC Citizenship are eligible to apply for a Hong Kong SAR passport.
On 1 July 1987, the concept of "right of abode" was introduced in Hong Kong legislation. A modified Hong Kong Certificate of Identity was introduced to ensure that Certificates of Identity would be acceptable for the purpose of international travel both before and after the handover of Hong Kong. These documents contain an endorsement showing that “the holder has the right of abode in Hong Kong”.
To ensure Certificate of Identity will be acceptable for the purpose of international travel and for the return to HK after 30 June 1997, the British and the Chinese Government have agreed that the Certificate of Identity contain the following endorsement:[ dubious ]
The holder of this passport has Hong Kong permanent identity card number xxxx which states that the holder has the right of abode in Hong Kong.
| |
Countries that allowed Hong Kong Certificate of Identity holders to visit without visas:
South Korea : 30 days
Palau : no specific limit of stay (subject to final decision made by immigration officer, on individual merit)
Netherlands Antilles / 
Aruba : 14 days
Northern Mariana Islands : 1 month
Singapore : 30 daysAfter the HKSAR was established, a number of countries have ceased to accept CI's at different times. Those not yet eligible for HKSAR passports would recourse to the Document of Identity.
However it is no longer possible to possess a valid CI as a travel document, because all CIs have expired by 30 June 2007.
| |
The following statements were printed in both English and traditional Chinese.
The present Certificate is issued for the sole purpose of providing the holder with identity papers in lieu of a national passport. It is without prejudice to and in no way affects the national status of the holder. If the holder obtains a national passport this Certificate ceases to be valid and must be surrendered to the issuing authority or nearest British Consulate, High Commission or Passport Office for cancellation and return to the Holder. 本証明書之發給，旨在使本証持有人獲得証明身份之文件以作代替護照之用。本証明書對持有人之國籍地位並無妨害，亦無影響。倘持有人另行領得護照時本証明書卽吿無效，屆時必須將之繳回發証機關或就近之英國領事館、高級專員公署或護照簽發處，以便於註銷後歸還持有人。
 | This section needs expansionwith: Need Original Chinese text.. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020) |
1. This Certificate of Identity remains property of the Hong Kong government. It will normally be cancelled if the holder obtains a national passport or other travel document.
2. Certificates of identity are normally valid for ten years from date of issue, but may be made valid for shorter periods in certain circumstances.
3. The holder may return to Hong Kong without visa, provided the Certificate is valid.
4. The holder is advised to obtain visas for any country he wishes to visit or pass through.
5. Should the holder take up residence in a country or territory outside Hong Kong application should be made to the competent authorities of this country of residence for a new travel document.
6. The issue of this certificate does not confer a right on the holder to the protection of British diplomatic or consular representatives abroad, nor does it exempt the holder from the provisions of the Hong Kong Immigration Ordinance Chapter 115.
7. The Certificate is a valuable document and should not be altered in any way or allowed to pass into the possession of an unauthorised person. If lost or destroyed, a report should immediately be made to the issuing office or to the nearest British Consulate, High Commission or Police Office, as well as to the local police.
These notes apply to the following version of the Certificate of Identity: I.D. 67 (Revised) in 1980.
The politics of Hong Kong takes place in a framework of a political system dominated by its quasi-constitutional document, the Hong Kong Basic Law, its own legislature, the Chief Executive as the head of government and of the Special Administrative Region and of a politically constrained multi-party presidential system. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is led by the Chief Executive, the head of government.
A passport is an official travel document issued by a government that contains a person's identity for international travel. A person with a passport can travel to and from foreign countries more easily and access consular assistance. A passport certifies the personal identity and nationality of its holder. It is typical for passports to contain the full name, photograph, place and date of birth, signature, and the issue and expiration dates of the passport. While passports are typically issued by national governments, certain subnational governments are authorised to issue passports to citizens residing within their borders.
The Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, also colloquially referred to as a Home Return Permit or Home Visit Permit, is issued to Chinese nationals who are permanent residents of or settled in Hong Kong and Macau as the travel document to Mainland China. The permit is issued by the Exit and Entry Administration of the People's Republic of China through China Travel Service sub-branches in Hong Kong and Macau and allows holders to travel freely to mainland China.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China passport is a passport issued only to permanent residents of Hong Kong who also hold Chinese citizenship. In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, since the transfer of sovereignty on 1 July 1997, the passport has been issued by the Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong under the authorisation of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. As the official languages of Hong Kong are Chinese and English, the passport is printed bilingually in both Chinese and English. In addition, unlike Chinese passports which can be issued by Chinese consulates abroad, the Immigration Department(Hong Kong) is the only issuing authority for HKSAR passports.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Document of Identity for Visa Purposes is a biometric travel document issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department to residents of Hong Kong who are unable to obtain a national passport. It is usually valid for seven years.
Hong Kong Re-entry Permit are issued to Hong Kong residents by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for travel to mainland China and Macau Special Administrative Region.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) passport is the passport issued to nationals of the Republic of China. The ROC passport is also generally referred to as a Taiwanese passport. In September 2020, approximately 60.87 percent of Taiwanese citizens possessed a valid passport.
The Hong Kong identity card is an official identity document issued by the Immigration Department of Hong Kong. According to the Registration of Persons Ordinance, all residents of age 11 or above who are living in Hong Kong for longer than 180 days must, within 30 days of either reaching the age of 11 or arriving in Hong Kong, register for an HKID. HKIDs contain amongst others the name of the bearer in English, and if applicable in Chinese. The HKID does not expire for the duration of residency in Hong Kong.
The Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of Chinapassport is a passport issued to Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Macau.
The Republic of China national identification card, commonly known as the national identification card of Taiwan, is a compulsory identity document issued to people who hold both nationality and household registration in Taiwan. The National Identification Card served as the evidence for the household registration in Taiwan which grants the holder the right of abode and full civil and political rights in Taiwan. The card is used for virtually all other activities that require identity verification within Taiwan such as opening bank accounts and voting.
The Exit & Entry Permit for Taiwan, Republic of China is the document for the bearer to enter into and/or depart from the Taiwan Area, namely Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. Currently, there are several types of Exit & Entry Permit that reflect the bearer's residency status. The permit is issued by the National Immigration Agency of the Republic of China (Taiwan). For different purposes, the permit is also known as:
The People's Republic of China Passport, commonly referred to as the Chinese passport, is a passport issued to citizens of the People's Republic of China (PRC) for the purpose of international travel, and entitles its bearer to the protection of China's consular officials overseas.
Taiwanese nationality law details the conditions in which a person is a national of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The Nationality Act is based on the principle of jus sanguinis, children born to at least one Taiwanese parent are automatically nationals at birth. Foreign nationals with permanent residency in Taiwan may naturalize after continuously living in the country for at least five (5) years. Certain foreign immediate family members of Taiwanese nationals may naturalize after continuously living in the country for at least three (3) years.
Visitors to the Republic of China (Taiwan) must obtain a visa or authorization in advance, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries whose nationals are eligible for visa on arrival. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.
The Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents, also known as the Taiwan Compatriot Permit, is a type of travel document issued by the Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to Republic of China nationals (ROC) who hold household registration in Taiwan. The document is issued by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). Since the identity documents issued by the government of the Republic of China are not recognized in the PRC, the permit serves as both the main travel document and identity document for Taiwanese people in the PRC territory and is used on all occasions in lieu of a Taiwan passport.
Visitors to the mainland of the People's Republic of China must obtain a visa from one of the Chinese diplomatic missions, unless they are a national of one of the visa-exempt countries. The residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan with Chinese nationality can stay in Mainland indefinitely as long as their travel documents are valid.
The visa policy of Hong Kong deals with the requirements in which a foreign national wishing to enter Hong Kong through one of the 15 immigration control points must meet to obtain an entry permit or Visa, which depending on the traveller's nationality, may be required to travel to, enter, and remain in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Visitors from over 145 countries are permitted without Visa entry for periods ranging from 7 to 180 days, to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for tourism or certain business-related activities. All visitors must hold a passport valid for more than 1 month.
The Macau Resident Identity Card or BIR is an official identity card issued by the Identification Services Bureau of Macau. There are two types of Resident Identity Cards: one for permanent residents and one for non-permanent residents.
The British National (Overseas) passport, commonly referred to as the BN(O) passport, is a British passport for people with British National (Overseas) citizenship. BN(O) citizenship was created in 1987 after the enactment of Hong Kong Act 1985. BN(O) citizens are permanent residents of Hong Kong who were British Overseas Territories citizens until 30 June 1997, and chose to remain British by registering for BN(O) citizenship when Hong Kong was a British overseas territory.
A national without household registration (NWOHR) is a person with Republic of China nationality who does not have household registration in Taiwan. Nationals with this status are subject to immigration controls when entering the Taiwan Area, do not have automatic residence rights there, cannot vote in Taiwanese elections, and are exempt from conscription. Most individuals with this status are children born overseas to Taiwanese citizens. About 60,000 NWOHRs currently hold Taiwanese passports with this status.
 Hong Kong-related identity and travel documents | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issued by the SAR government |
| ||||||||
| Issued by the Central Government |
| ||||||||
| Issued by the British Government |
| ||||||||