HKCSI's Comment on the Immigration Department's Proposal to Introduce a
Travel Pass
December 1996
We support the proposal. As an internationally-oriented service economy, Hong Kong has
to be constantly alert to competition from the region. The proposal scheme, if
implemented, will make it more convenient for frequent business travellers to Hong Kong.
What is more important, however, is the underlying message that Hong Kong emphasises a
commitment to service and "getting things done".
In implementing the proposal, the allocation of the travel passes will have to be
carefully controlled and monitored to ensure only bona fide persons make use of this
facility.
The Immigration Department will need to increase the number of "residents"
counters to meet the additional load.
There already exists considerable confusion as to the persons eligible to use the two
types of "residents" counters, which leads to delays and misunderstanding.
Introduction of the travel pass may exacerbate this problem and clearer direction is
required for arriving passengers into the appropriate lines.
Under the proposed procedure for immigration clearance, travel pass holders will be
required to complete an arrival card. It would appear that any information contained in
the arrival card will have been previously captured in the travel pass, other than
information such as short-term address in Hong Kong. Given that the travel pass holders
will have a proven track record from previous visits, it is not clear to us what purpose
would be served by the completion of an arrival card.
