The Immigration Department (ImmD) today reviewed its work of 2022, covering national security, the handling of non-refoulement claims, combating the COVID-19 epidemic and services at control points, among other things.

The department said it has introduced in phases, electronic services for visa application since December 2021 to boost handling efficiency.

As at the end of 2022, over 250,000 and 450,000 applicants had used the services for application submission and visa collection upon payment respectively, which accounted for nearly 30% and 60% of the respective total numbers of application submission and visa collection upon payment.

Launched in December 2021, contactless automated immigration clearance was extended to all immigration control points in 2022.

As at the end of 2022, around 650,000 Hong Kong residents had registered for the Contactless e-Channel service and around 860,000 people had used the service, which accounted for nearly 40% of the number of passengers who used the e-Channel for clearance during the same period.

On the handling of non-refoulement claims, the department said it has speeded up the screening of non-refoulement claims with the enhancement of screening procedures and flexible deployment of manpower.

In 2022, it determined over 1,700 non-refoulement claims. As at the end of that year, there were about 200 claims pending screening.

Regarding national security, since the third quarter of 2022, a test on the National Security Law has been included in the department’s internal examinations for service members in order to further consolidate their understanding and knowledge of the relevant laws.

Meanwhile, construction of the ImmD Headquarters is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year. Offices and facilities concerned will be relocated to the new headquarters in phases in 2024 after the installation of the computer system network and basic equipment.

To enhance the service level and efficiency of services for the public, the department will make use of innovative technologies to introduce smart elements into the new headquarters, such as the provision of a self-service station with diversified services so that people can submit applications and collect documents or visas without queuing for services at the counters.