Immigration Department (Hong Kong)

Immigration Department
入境事務處
Agency overview
Formed4 August 1961 (1961-08-04)[1]
JurisdictionHong Kong
HeadquartersImmigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai
Employees6,569
Minister responsible
Agency executive
Websiteimmd.gov.hk
Immigration Department
Traditional Chinese入境事務處
Simplified Chinese入境事务处
Pre-handover Name
Traditional Chinese人民入境事務處
Simplified Chinese人民入境事务处

The Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong is responsible for immigration control of Hong Kong. After the People's Republic of China assumed sovereignty of the territory 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.

  1. ^ "Press Release". Archived from the original on 10 March 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2009.

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