Hong Kong to allow permanent residents as young as 7 to use e-channel service
But children between seven and 10 years old should be at least 1.1 metres tall and have valid travel documents, authorities say
Hong Kong permanent residents as young as seven years old can use self-service clearance channels at the city’s checkpoints starting from next Monday, the Immigration Department has announced.
The department said on Thursday that it would lower the current eligible age from 11 to seven for permanent residents with smart identity cards to use the faster e-channels for exiting and entering the city.
“To further enhance the clearance efficiency of control points and allow more Hong Kong residents to use the fast and convenient e-channel service, starting from March 31, the department will adjust the applicable age,” it said.
It added that children aged between seven and 10 should be at least 1.1 metres (3 feet, 7 inches) tall and have a smart ID card and a valid Hong Kong passport to use the e-channels without prior enrolment.
They would be able to exit and enter the city via face recognition technology at all control points, the department said.