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Request for Information under the Code on Access to Information: Correspondence and Diplomatic Efforts regarding Mutual e-Gate Arrangements with Foreign Governments

Ms Wong made this Freedom of Information request to Immigration Department

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Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to make a request for information under the Code on Access to Information.

I would like to request, for the period from 1 January 2020 to present, the following information:

1) Correspondence with Foreign Governments on e-Gate Arrangements
Please provide records or summaries of official correspondence (including letters, emails, meeting minutes, or formal notes) between the Hong Kong Immigration Department and the immigration authorities or relevant departments of other governments relating to:

- Negotiations or discussions about the mutual recognition of automated immigration clearance channels (e-Gates) for visitors.
- Proposals or agreements concerning the possibility of allowing Hong Kong SAR passport holders to use e-Gate services in other countries without pre-registration or pre-enrolment, specifically including but not limited to the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Singapore, and Japan.
- Any responses received from these foreign governments regarding such requests or proposals.

2) Efforts to Broaden Mutual e-Gate Access
Please provide documents, reports, or internal records outlining what specific efforts the Immigration Department has made since 1 January 2020 to initiate, maintain, or expand mutual e-Gate arrangements with other jurisdictions.

This should include any briefing papers, internal memos, or records of ongoing initiatives or strategies aimed at achieving reciprocal e-Gate access without the need for pre-registration.

3) Ongoing or Recent Initiatives
Are there any current or ongoing discussions or negotiations (according to official records) with foreign governments, especially those where pre-enrolment is currently required, to change the arrangement to allow Hong Kong SAR passport holders to use e-Gates on arrival without pre-registration? Please provide the latest updates or summaries of such efforts.

4) Outcomes and Obstacles
Where available, please also provide a summary of outcomes or reasons recorded by the Immigration Department for any unsuccessful attempts to secure reciprocal e-Gate arrangements with major partner countries, with specific reference to the issue of pre-enrolment or automatic access.

If it is not possible to provide full copies of correspondence, I would appreciate a summary of the nature and outcome of such communications. If there are limits regarding how much time you can spend on this request specifically, please complete the requests in a chronological order (i.e. starting with Request 1) and provide all the information you have attained and aggregated within the amount of time you are allowed to work on this information.

Thank you very much for your assistance in this matter.

Yours faithfully,
Ms Wong

Dear Ms. Wong,

I refer to your application for access to information received by us via
email on 11 June 2025.

Your application is under processing. According to paragraph 1.16 of the
Code on Access to Information, our department will inform you of the
latest progress of the case separately on or 1 July 2025.

Best regards,

(Mr. H M Li)
for Director of Immigration
Records and Data Management Section

From: "Ms Wong" <[FOI #1523 email]>
To: "在入境事務處提出的公開資料要求" <[Immigration Department request email]>
Date: 11/06/2025 23:31
Subject: 公開資料要求 - Request for Information under the Code on
Access to Information: Correspondence and Diplomatic Efforts regarding
Mutual e-Gate Arrangements with Foreign Governments
Sent by: [FOI #1523 email]

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to make a request for information under the Code on Access to
Information.

I would like to request, for the period from 1 January 2020 to present,
the following information:

1) Correspondence with Foreign Governments on e-Gate Arrangements
Please provide records or summaries of official correspondence (including
letters, emails, meeting minutes, or formal notes) between the Hong Kong
Immigration Department and the immigration authorities or relevant
departments of other governments relating to:

- Negotiations or discussions about the mutual recognition of automated
immigration clearance channels (e-Gates) for visitors.
- Proposals or agreements concerning the possibility of allowing Hong Kong
SAR passport holders to use e-Gate services in other countries without
pre-registration or pre-enrolment, specifically including but not limited
to the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Singapore, and Japan.
- Any responses received from these foreign governments regarding such
requests or proposals.

2) Efforts to Broaden Mutual e-Gate Access
Please provide documents, reports, or internal records outlining what
specific efforts the Immigration Department has made since 1 January 2020
to initiate, maintain, or expand mutual e-Gate arrangements with other
jurisdictions.

This should include any briefing papers, internal memos, or records of
ongoing initiatives or strategies aimed at achieving reciprocal e-Gate
access without the need for pre-registration.

3) Ongoing or Recent Initiatives
Are there any current or ongoing discussions or negotiations (according to
official records) with foreign governments, especially those where
pre-enrolment is currently required, to change the arrangement to allow
Hong Kong SAR passport holders to use e-Gates on arrival without
pre-registration? Please provide the latest updates or summaries of such
efforts.

4) Outcomes and Obstacles
Where available, please also provide a summary of outcomes or reasons
recorded by the Immigration Department for any unsuccessful attempts to
secure reciprocal e-Gate arrangements with major partner countries, with
specific reference to the issue of pre-enrolment or automatic access.

If it is not possible to provide full copies of correspondence, I would
appreciate a summary of the nature and outcome of such communications. If
there are limits regarding how much time you can spend on this request
specifically, please complete the requests in a chronological order (i.e.
starting with Request 1) and provide all the information you have attained
and aggregated within the amount of time you are allowed to work on this
information.

Thank you very much for your assistance in this matter.

Yours faithfully,
Ms Wong

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