Hong Kong official travel documents prior to 1997 included the
Hong Kong Certificate of Identity (CI),
British Dependent Territories Citizen (BDTC),
British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) and
British Citizen (BC) passports. After 1997, BN(O) and BC passports are still valid but CIs and BDTC passports are no longer in use.
First version (1997–2003) The issuing of Hong Kong SAR passports began on 1 July 1997, following the
handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China. PRC citizens who have
right of abode in the HKSAR and who hold Hong Kong permanent resident identity cards, whether or not they are holders of
British National (Overseas) passport or
Hong Kong Certificate of Identity or other travel documents, are eligible to apply for the Hong Kong SAR passport. Acquisition of
British citizenship in the
British Nationality Selection Scheme itself does not affect the eligibility for a HKSAR passport. Nor does the holding of any foreign passport itself affect the eligibility for a HKSAR passport, provided that one remains a PRC citizen. Under
Hong Kong Basic Law, the
Government of Hong Kong is responsible for immigration control in the territory. The Hong Kong SAR passport is issued by the
Immigration Department of Hong Kong under the authorisation of the Central People's Government (or the State Council). Its design is distinct from other types of
People's Republic of China passports and the holders enjoy visa-free entry to more countries than other PRC passports.
Second version (2003–2007) Starting from 1 January 2003, the second version of the passport was introduced with enhanced security features. The passport was machine readable, designed for immigration control points equipped with passport scanners. The passport size was . The second version of the Hong Kong SAR passport was available either as a 32-page ordinary-size passport or as a 48-page passport.
Front cover The cover of the passport was dark blue with wording and the national emblem of the People's Republic of China in gold. The word
Passport in Chinese and English is found below the crest. Above are the words ''Hong Kong Special Administrative Region People's Republic of China'', also in Chinese and English. In Chinese, the characters (People's Republic of China) are bigger than the characters (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) on the passport cover. In English, however, "HONG KONG" is bigger than the phrase "SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA".
Inner front cover The passport note appeared on the second page in Chinese and English:
Inner pages The passport's observations page on page 3 had the following: • the holder's
Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card number, and the Chinese Commercial Code of the holder's Chinese name • if the passport was issued through a Chinese foreign mission, the embassy/consulate would also make an endorsement in the observations stating so. • an official chop by the
Immigration Department • a machine-readable barcode The passport's explanatory notes were on page 1 in Chinese, and on page 2 in English. They consisted of the following words:
Identification page Personal data was recorded on the inner rear cover of the passport, which was covered with a security laminate. Details included were: • Travel document type: P • Code of Issuing State: CHN (People's Republic of China) • Passport number (A valid Hong Kong passport number consists of nine characters: one or two uppercase letters, followed by six digits, and ending with one or two letters or digits) • Surname and Given Names: in traditional Chinese and English • Nationality: "CHINESE" (The nationality code is CHN as shown in the
machine readable zone) • Sex: denoted as "M" (male) or "F" (female) • Place of birth: if born in China, name of province/autonomous region/municipality; if born in Hong Kong or Macao, 'Hong Kong' or 'Macao'; if born in other countries, name of country • Dates of birth, issue and expiry: displayed in the format DD-MM-YY • Authority (of issue): "IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION" (in Chinese and English) There was also a machine readable zone at the bottom of the identification page. Changes from the first version included
optically variable ink used to print the letters "HKSAR" along the left hand side of the photo and the words "IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION" in the "Issuing authority" section of the personal data page.
Third version (2007–2018) Since the issuing of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport commenced on 1 July 1997 following the handover of Hong Kong, the passport has undergone three different changes, each with security enhancements. In February 2007, the first
ePassport was introduced. The design conforms with the document design recommendations of the
International Civil Aviation Organization. The new ePassport featured in the 2008 Stockholm Challenge Event and was a finalist for the Stockholm Challenge Award in the Public Administration category. The Hong Kong SAR ePassport design was praised on account of the "multiple state-of-the-art technologies [which] are seamlessly integrated in the sophisticated Electronic Passport System (e-Passport System)".[20] The cover of the new biometric passport remains essentially the same as that of previous versions, with the addition of the
biometric passport logo at the bottom.
Physical appearance In 2006, the
Immigration Department announced that Unihub Limited (a
PCCW subsidiary company heading a consortium of suppliers, including Keycorp) had won the tender to provide the technology to produce
biometric passports.[22] In February 2007, the first
ePassport was introduced. The cover of the new
biometric passport remains essentially the same as that of previous versions. The
biometric passport symbol appears at the bottom under the word "PASSPORT". However, the design of the inner pages has changed substantially.
Inside front cover On the inner front cover of the passport, below the crest of the People's Republic of China and above a picture of the
Great Wall of China are the following words: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China requests all civil and military authorities of foreign countries to allow the bearer of this passport to pass freely and afford assistance in case of need.On the reverse of the polycarbonate identification page insert is a blue image with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region emblem in the centre. At the top is a pattern of the words " HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA". At the bottom is a picture of
Victoria Harbour behind an outline of the
Great Wall of China.
Identification page The identification page appears on a
polycarbonate insert between the front cover and the first page. Using laser engraving technology, the holder's photograph is printed in black and white, with the holder's
Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card number printed vertically on the right-hand side of the portrait photograph. The passport is also machine readable, designed for immigration control points equipped with passport scanners. Details which are printed include: • Travel document type: P • Code of Issuing State: CHN • Passport number (A valid Hong Kong passport number consists of nine characters: one or two uppercase letters, followed by six digits, and ending with one or two letters or digits) • Surname and Given Names: in
traditional Chinese characters and English • Nationality: "CHINESE" (The nationality code is CHN as shown in the
machine readable zone) • Sex: denoted as "M" (male) or "F" (female) • Place of birth: if born in China, the name of the
province/
autonomous region/
municipality in which the bearer was born; if born in Hong Kong or
Macao, 'Hong Kong' or 'Macao'; if born in other countries, the name of the country of birth • Dates of birth, issuance and expiry: displayed in the format DD-MMM-YY • Authority (of issue): "IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION" (in Chinese and English) The code "CHN" (China) is used for both issuing state and nationality. This is the same as PRC passport and Macau SAR passport. (During the British colonial era, a Hong Kong British Dependent Territories Citizen passport used "HKG" as the code of the issuing state and "GBD" as the nationality code.) Instead of printing the holder's signature on the identification/observation pages, space is reserved on the last page of the passport below the emergency contact information for the holder to complete his/her signature.
Security features Enveloping the top right hand corner of the portrait photograph, and the surname, given names and nationality data sections is a kinegram, consisting of an amalgamation of the Chinese and Hong Kong flags, and the letters "HK". In the middle of the identification page is a multiple laser image consisting of two circles: in the left hand circle is another image of the holder's portrait photograph, at the bottom of which is the passport number; in the right hand circle is the Hong Kong regional flag (the red and white reverse gradually as the viewing angle is changed). The Hong Kong permanent identity card number is printed at the bottom right hand side of the portrait photograph as a trapezium shape which gradually widens towards the bottom. The three waves at the bottom of the portrait photograph, as well as the straight line separating the machine readable zone from the rest of the data page and the vertical straight line of the right hand column of
Tsing Ma Bridge, contains micro-lettering of the holder's English name, Hong Kong permanent identity card number and date of birth. The background of the identification page changes under
ultraviolet light, when a scene of the
Tsing Ma Bridge with nighttime fireworks becomes visible. The identification page also contains an engraving of a bauhinia, but with certain lines replaced by microlettering consisting of "HKSAR".
Inner pages All the inner pages have seasonal flowers at the side, and different "" ("Chinese") characters in the centre. As well as being printed in red at the bottom of each page, the passport number is perforated through the top section of all the odd-numbered pages. At the bottom of each page is a gold outline of the
Great Wall of China. The seasonal flower is printed across the middle of even-numbered and odd-numbered pages. When two pages are rolled up such that they meet each other, the seasonal flower on the right margin of the odd-numbered page matches up with the flower on the left margin of the even-numbered page (e.g. pages 11 and 14), forming a complete bouquet of flowers. The observations page, located on page 1, contains a photograph of the holder. If the passport is issued through a Chinese foreign mission, the embassy/consulate will make an endorsement in the observations stating so. The explanatory notes on the passport are placed on the second last page of the passport, and read as follows- • The issuance, replacement, reissuance and endorsement of this passport shall be effected by the Immigration Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, diplomatic and consular missions of the People's Republic of China in foreign countries, or other Chinese authorities in foreign countries under the entrustment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. • The bearer of this passport is a Chinese citizen who holds a Hong Kong permanent identity card (HKPIC) and has the right of abode in and the right to return to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. • This passport is valid for ten years, unless otherwise stated. This passport is normally valid for five years if issued to a child under sixteen years of age. This passport shall be replaced by a new one when its validity period has expired or it has no further space for visas. • This passport is an important document of identity which shall be kept carefully and used properly. It shall not be mutilated, tampered with, or transferred to another person for unlawful use. Any case of loss or destruction should be immediately reported to the nearest issuing authority and the local police or public security authorities. The last page of the passport has a section to be filled in by the holder with contact information in the event of an emergency, as well as a space for the holder to complete his/her signature.
Contactless biometric data chip Data included in the contactless chip of the passport: • Name in Chinese and English • Nationality (i.e. Chinese) • Sex • Date of birth • Place of birth •
Permanent Hong Kong identity card number • Facial image • Passport number • Date of issue • Date of expiry • Issuing authority (i.e. Immigration Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Fingerprints and iris scans are not included. The explanation from back cover for the chip is as follows: This passport contains sensitive electronics. For the best performance please do not bend, perforate this page or expose this passport to extreme temperatures or excess moisture. Do not stamp here
Fourth version (2019–) From May 14, 2019, the fourth version passport has been issued. Like the third version, it is an electronic passport, and at least 8 new anti-counterfeiting features have been added to increase the difficulty of making false certificates. The main differences from the previous passport are as follows: • The background color of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region emblem on the back of the Personal Data Page has been changed to a gradient multi-color pattern. • The theme design of the Personal Data Page has been changed from the Tsing Ma Bridge to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Golden Bauhinia Square, with the addition of the national flag of the People's Republic of China and the regional flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. • A small photograph of the holder has been added to the Personal Data Page, etched within a transparent window. • Dynamic printing has been added to the Personal Data Page, with the words "Hong Kong" and "HK" alternating when viewed from different angles. • The microprinted personal data below the holder's photo on the Personal Data Page has been changed from a wavy pattern to a Lion Rock pattern. • The night views of the Tsing Ma Bridge and Kap Shui Mun Bridge can be seen under ultraviolet light on the Personal Data Page. • The background color of the inner pages of the passport has been changed from a gradient of yellow and green to a four-color rotation of blue, red, green, and yellow, with the addition of a butterfly pattern. By placing pages with the same background color together and holding them under ultraviolet light, a picture of Victoria Harbour can be pieced together. • The notes page features a photo of the passport holder in micro-printed personal information, changing from black and white to color. • To accommodate the needs of visually impaired individuals, upon request, the passport number and expiration date can be printed in Braille on the back of the "Personal Information Page" to facilitate identification. The rest of the passport remains the same as a regular passport. File:Data Page of Hong Kong SAR of P.R.China Passport.jpg|Identification page of the Fourth Version Hong Kong SAR passport File:Visa Page of Hong Kong SAR of P.R.China Passport.jpg|Visa pages of the Fourth Version Hong Kong SAR passport ==Eligibility and application==