The Immigration Department announced today the introduction of two additional functions to its 1868 system, which allows citizens in distress outside of Hong Kong to seek help from the department’s Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit.

The new functions are an 1868 WeChat assistance hotline in the department’s WeChat official account, and an 1868 chatbot in the departmental mobile app.

The department underlined that the newly added hotline and chatbot are intended to provide assistance to Hong Kong residents in need outside the city. For other immigration enquiries, people should call 2824 6111 or write to enquiry@immd.gov.hk.