Government ID, Smart Cards, Identification and Authentication

Hong Kong’s mandatory citizen smart card expedites travel, secures financial transactions

Friday, December 8, 2006


Even though the Hong Kong ‘territory-wide’ Smart Identity Card project went live three years ago and even though it is issuing some 8,000 cards a day, it’s still going to take until April next year for every eligible citizen to receive the upgraded smart cards.

About five million smart cards have been issued so far to citizens 11 and above, out of a population of nearly seven million, according to Pieter Hoogendoorn, business manager for ACI (Applied Communications, Inc.) Worldwide, a UK company that provides card management solutions the program.

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Global Industry Analysts Inc. released a report forecasting the outlook on the global smart card market to reach 10.9 billion units by 2015.

GIA credits the growth driven largely by major initiatives in the financial, government and security sectors, with the telecom sector at the way ahead of the pack as the largest end-user. Increasing usage of contactless technology, newer applications and mandatory EMV migration across countries are also major drivers boosting the global market for smart cards.

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The Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) announced that the registration of Emirati newborns is now mandatory for electronic passports (e-passport) and ID cards, according to ArabianBusiness.com.

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A journalist for the Mingpao Daily has managed to spoof a biometric self-service kiosk used for immigration clearance at the Hong Kong-China border, according to a PC Advisor article.

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UK-regional bus group Bluestar has launched a new transit card for discounted weekly and monthly travel on its network, according to Southern Daily Echo.

The new card enables cashless fare for any service on the Bluestar Network in Southampton, Eastleigh and Winchester. It also supports travel on Wilts & Dorset buses and Southern Vectis on the Isle of Wight, both of which are owned and operated by Go-Ahead Group.

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The Emirates Identity Authority announced the test launch of the registration e-form on its web site for the national ID card. Applicants will be able to avoid lines at registration centers by using the online service to fill ID forms, pay fees and get an appointment for biometric screening, according to TechZone360.com

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The Asia Pacific region is one of the largest users of smart cards, so much that it now leads the world in using the cards to pay for travel, reports iTWire.

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