[sooos]

Hi!

I am confused about the way a foreign passport and a HK identity card may work in tandem. I hold both a permanent ID card and an Australian passport. In order to qualify for residency and work, do i enter HK with HKPID card alone? is it usual to enter this way, or would i need to obtain a HK passport as well? is it true that if i enter HK on an Australian Passport I would be subject to conditions applicable to Australian nationals and be unable to exercise HKPID rights...

?

[nivantj]

Just show your HKPID and thats enough. It doesnt matter which passport you hold....

[sooos]

thanks!

that's nice and easy!

[JJexpat]

Not the same but...sorta? 1) When applying for my smartcard HKID, I put te end of my current contract as the end date. I was told I have an unconditional card-no end date. 2) Coming across the border recently, I asked whether the officer needed to see my old passport with the working visa stamp (as they usually do). I was told I have an unconditional id, so no need.

So what's with this...I would love not to travel with two passports, and wonder about this seemingly unlimited aspect of the unconditional satus--what happens when my current contract is up? Anyone in the know on this stuff?

[KnowItAll]

JJ:

Do you have an AMOY or UMOY code on your ID card?

Mine is UMOY, I havent bothered to apply for the right of abode and I do need to show my passport during exit and entry. My wife on the other hand has an A code and does not need to show her passport while at Hong Kong exit and entry controls.

[KnowItAll]

By the way, both A or U code ID cards are not conditional on the employment contract. Only a "C" code ID card is conditional.

[nivantj]

KIA,
Just out of curiosity, Any advantage of not doing that or just a little lethargy? Does it trouble anywhere else except entry/ exit at checkpoint?

[KnowItAll]

Lethargy ... "tommorrow never comes"

[nivantj]

Never mind.."Tommorrow never dies".. One day it has to come..

[STAM4NICK]

Am I correct in saying that the HK ID Cards have no expiration date? I frequently try to use it in the US at the airport as a "government issued photo ID" but some people flat out refuse it because they think it has "expired", but it really is just the "date of issue" as I am sure we all have on ours, but they cause trouble and generally don't belive me.

Also mine only says "Hong Kong Identity Card". Do most still say "Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card" or are they changing it or does it depend on stay conditions?

Also, one with a stay condition ID Card (mine if you have not guessed) can it be used at HK Airport immigration in lieu of any other document (i.e. US passport)?