Progress on implementation of new immigration control system
Security in automated immigration clearance
Mr CHAN Chun-ying expressed concern that with improved efficiency in immigration clearance following implementation of the third phase of ICONS, there might be a bottleneck in the security screening of passengers at the airport. He considered that actions should be taken to speed up security screening of passengers at the airport. US for S responded that immigration control and the security screening of passengers at the airport were separate procedures.
Other issues
Mr CHAN Chun-ying asked when the new electronic Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR”) Passport would be introduced. AD of Imm(IS) responded that the first generation of electronic HKSAR Passport had been introduced in 2007. The second generation HKSAR Passport, funding for which had been approved by the Finance Committee (“FC”) in April 2016, was expected to be introduced in March 2019.
Use of body worn video cameras by the Police
Mr CHAN Chun-ying sought information on the unit cost and annual maintenance cost of a BWVC. He sought information on the number of BWVCs required for frontline police officers and asked whether substantial financial resources were needed for equipping all frontline police officers with BWVCs.
US for S responded that the costs of BWVCs were not the main consideration in equipping police officers with BWVCs. The major consideration was operational needs. BWVCs would be used for recording in confrontational scenarios, or incidents where a breach of the peace had occurred or was likely to occur. About 10 000 police officers, who might be deployed for different duties at different times, had received training in the use of BWVCs, and such training would need to be increased. ACP(S) added that every uniformed police officers, based on operational need, had access to BWVCs, either by being issued with a BWVC or being able to call for one at the very short notice. Two models of BWVCs had been procured and the unit cost of the latest model procured by the Police was about $3,000.
Mr CHAN Chun-ying asked whether the use of BWVCs would be extended to all law enforcement agencies. US for S responded that the issue should be determined by the respective department heads. He said that for instance, the Correctional Services Department had been using BWVCs to meet their operational need.