Hong Kong and Macau - what's the story with HK ID card?(req's, benefits, for US child of HK emigrants?)

Hi all --

Can I ask your expertise on the HK Identity card? Short summary is: is it worth it for me to apply for it / can I?

Background: I am the US-born son of parents who came to the US in 1960s. They are now US citizens, but qualified for their HK identity cards (3 stars) by birth or 7 years living in HK.

My question -- what benefits would I be able to receive / would it be worth it, and am I eligible? It seems the answer to both these questions are changing periodically, as family friends say that one of the main benefits (travel to China w/o visa) may disappear -- and that the qualifications are changing.

For example, I read on the HK website that I might qualify, but if my parents had already gotten a US green card at the time of my birth (which I think they did), I would then *not* qualify. But friends say that there are other ways to qualify (outside of official rules??).

Is all this worth the trouble? What is that identity card good for (specifically, the kind that I could qualify for)? No-visa travel? HK benefits/payments some day? The right to live/work in HK, as expensive as it is?? What is this 2 star, 3 star difference?

Thanks!

Even if they give you a HKID, you still cannot go to China just with that. You have to enter with either 1) a visa with your US passport, or 2) a Home Return Permit issued to HK or Macau SAR citizens. To get the HRP, you first have to apply for a HKSAR passport, which you may or may not qualify. But just saying, it's not about the HKID.

Is all this worth the trouble? What is that identity card good for (specifically, the kind that I could qualify for)? No-visa travel? HK benefits/payments some day? The right to live/work in HK, as expensive as it is?? What is this 2 star, 3 star difference?


For different ID cards codes are explained here

http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/idcard/hkic/smartid.htm

for getting a HKID card, the goodies I can think of is

1. Ability to work in HK
2. Ability to use the e-Channel, though you can do the same by applying the barcode at HKIA
3. Do not need to carry the passport around in HK

For enter China without Visa you will need to get HKSAR passport, which means you have to give up US passport (not 100% sure but may be the case) - I have fair amount of friends that even have HK permanent ID card still have to enter China using passport, because they are Canadian / US / UK.

In addition, if you enter China with the "Return Homeland Card", you will lose consulate protection regardless which passport you holding, but with that card allows you to work in China without limitation. Applying "Return Homeland Card" requires you to hold HKSAR passport.

HK social benefit can only be obtained if you have 3* IDs, which includes payment for the elderly, no-income security net, subsidized medical care (which I am not counting of even as a Hongkie due to overcrowd), public housing (tough income requirement)

If you have a normal ID (without *) and normally stay in HK for 7 years then you graduate into 3* ID holder

Maybe our esteemed moderator [:D] might like to merge all of these threads into one stickey FAQ:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-kong-macau/1124109-dual-citizenship-passports.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-kong-macau/553695-hk-id-us-passport.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-kong-macau/1325032-dual-nationality.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-kong-macau/1094514-canadian-hk-id-going-work-china.html

>> 3. Do not need to carry the passport around in HK

Short term visitors are not required by law to carry the passport, or any identity card. Only legal HK residents are required to have the HKID card with them at all times.

I was stopped by police for ID check once. I showed my Canadian driver licence.

>> 3. Do not need to carry the passport around in HK

Short term visitors are not required by law to carry the passport, or any identity card. Only legal HK residents are required to have the HKID card with them at all times.

I was stopped by police for ID check once. I showed my Canadian driver licence.

are you sure that's the LAW... i can see, OTOH, that the police understands the annoyance to take your passport around, tho, and let you off with a photoed(?) ID. If you look more colored than you are they could give you some bashing time...

http://www.hkclic.org/en/topics/immigration/passports_and_identity_cards/q3.shtml

"Visitors who are staying in Hong Kong for not more than 180 days are not required to apply for identity cards ( regulation 25(d) of the Registration of Persons Regulations ). Nevertheless, such visitors are strongly advised to carry proof of identity (e.g. passports) with them, otherwise they may be detained by the police or immigration officers for verification of their status. "

"Strongly advised" but not a legal requirement. If they need to verify your status, you may be "detained", however briefly, and in whatever manner.