The Immigration Department today announced that the Secretary for Security has made an amendment order to revise the call-up programme for people born in 1957 to 1963 and 1970 to 1976 to apply for new smart identity cards as well as the arrangement for members of the sixth term of the District Councils.

The amendment order will be tabled at the Legislative Council on October 14 for negative vetting.

The department said having considered that the replacement of Hong Kong identity cards may be affected again if there is any sudden turn in the epidemic situation, the amendment order repeals the previous call-up programme for identity card holders born between 1973 and 1976 to avoid public confusion caused by multiple adjustments.

The Secretary for Security will designate the call-up programme for the relevant years of birth when the epidemic stabilises, it added.

To avoid crowds gathering, the department appeals to applicants to make appointment bookings online, on its mobile application or by calling the 24-hour hotline at 2121 1234.