The Hong Kong government revealed the new design of smart identity card on Wednesday and boasted security functions to prevent fabricating.
The new smart ID card is pink and light blue with light green colours. The photo of the cardholder moved from now the right to left and the 3D laser image placed on the right instead. The cards have expanded storage for saving a higher-resolution photo with facial recognition technology.
Photo via legco.gov.hk
Photo via legco.gov.hk
Besides, a new see-through window with the ID card number is above the personal information. The pictures of the Hong Kong skyline will appear when it is examined by UV lights.
Photo via legco.gov.hk
According to the latest Legislative Council papers by the Security Bureau, the Immigration Department features new security functions to enhance stronger protection against photo substitution and counterfeiting.
A hologram with waves and 3D effects and multiple-pattern background will be shown on the cards. Other security features include rainbow printing, microprinted text, and ink with optically variable properties.
Photo via legco.gov.hk
Also, the new system uses internal radio frequency identification, or RFID, transmission technology to improve security and speeds of information retrieving. The cards can connect with wireless technology to provide for alternative biometric authentication instead of fingerprint verification.
The government spent HKD54.6 million (USD7 million) this financial to change 8.8 million existing cards of a few types. The first round of the replacement expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Photo via legco.gov.hk
Photo via legco.gov.hk
While the smart ID card project has held over three years, residents have different comments towards the new cards.
Some people think that the new design was clearer and believe the card protection would be better but some think there are no big differences between the old and new one.
The existing smart ID card issued between 2003 and 2007 while many criticisms were given for the old cards when it released, for examples, the e-ID functions of the cards are not that popular as expected and cost residents to activates the accounts.
Online photo
So can the new Hong Kong smart ID card win the hearts of the residents? Let's see!
Last month, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) signed Memorandum of Understanding with Kazakhstan at the Belt and Road Summit, marking a new chapter of aviation connectivity and cooperation between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan.
Bauyrzhan Dosmanbetov, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Hong Kong and Macao SAR’s, highlights that this cooperation with AAHK is a milestone not only for tourism, but also for strengthening aviation management, enhancing service quality, and developing professional talent.
Bauyrzhan Dosmanbetov, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Hong Kong and Macau SAR’s. By Bastillepost.
“We had a direct flight from Hong Kong to Almaty before the pandemic, but then it was canceled,” says Dosmanbetov, “We are actively working on resuming it with the major Hong Kong carriers to make both destinations more accessible.” He also says that it is a pity that there is no airline currently operates direct flights to Hong Kong from Central Asia, which has a total population of 80 million.
AAHK signed memorandum with Kazakhstan last month at the Belt and Road Summit. Internet photo.
Besides working on resuming direct flight between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan, according to Dosmanbetov, Kazakhstan also provides two scholarships for their pilots and managers who are going to study at Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (HKIAA), in the hope of enhancing operational excellence, and further supporting stronger tourism, trade and people-to-people exchange.
Aviation is not the only cooperation Kazakhstan reached with Hong Kong. In August, Jiaxin International Resources Investment Limited, a Kazakhstan company receiving investment from Chinese enterprise, listed on both Hong Kong and Kazakhstan markets.
Shares of the company surged about 178 percent on its first day of initial public offering (IPO) on Hong Kong market. “The dual listing is a big growth for the company,” says Dosmanbetov, “I know we have two more companies also want to list in Hong Kong and Astana.”
As President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, emphasized in his 2025 State of the Nation Address, Kazakhstan must move beyond relying on raw material investment and channel more capital into manufacturing and high-end industry.
Dosmanbetov says that the reason why Kazakhstan is interested in Hong Kong market is that Hong Kong can connect it with investors who are experienced in supporting large-scale, diversified and innovative projects. According to him, entering Hong Kong means Kazakhstan-based companies gain access not only to financing but also to strategic partnership and pathways to support the transformation of Kazakhstan.
Dosmanbetov expresses optimism about deeper cooperation between the Astana International Exchange (AIX) and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) in the future. “Our interest in Hong Kong is not short-term,” says Dosmanbetov.
For Consul General, cooperating with Hong Kong is about aligning Kazakhstan’s economic transformation with one of the world’s most dynamic financial hubs. “Hong Kong, ” says Dosmanbetov, “as one of Asia’s premier financial hubs and a gateway to Chinese mainland, is natural partner.”
The Astana International Financial Center (AIFC) has already signed memorandum of understanding with top Asian exchanges, Dosmanbetov expects that there would be more Kazakhstan-based companies will engage in knowledge-sharing, dual-listing and cross-border investment in the coming years, so that they can benefit from the AIX’s high regulatory standards and HKEX’s deep liquidity.
The Astana International Center. Internet photo.
To reach the vision, the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong supports the investors of these projects by assisting with government coordination and regulatory matters, and acts as a link between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan. By working closely with Kazakh Invest, InvestHK, Qazaqstan Investment Corporation, and other agencies, the Consulate General can ensure that projects can develop smoothly and successfully.
When talking about the Belt and Road Summit held earlier, Dosmanbetov states that the Belt and Road Initiative is a powerful engine for Kazakhstan’s future development, since it can not only strengthen transport and investment links across Eurasia, but also deepen its eternal friendship with China.
For Dosmanbetov, the Belt and Road Initiative can provide infrastructure financing, technology partnerships, and cross-border connectivity, which builds the framework of creating a digital Kazakhstan. In September, the Development Bank of Kazakhstan issued a 2 billion yuan (HK$2.18 billion) dim sum bond in Hong Kong, making it the first issuer from Central Asia to launch a bond in Hong Kong.
Kazakhstan is one of the five countries in Central Asia, the rest of four are Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turmenistan and Uzbekistan, and the total population of five is 80 million. According to online information, Kazakhstan has the biggest population among them, the 2025 population is 20.84 million, with the annual growth rate of 1.55%, there are over 55% of them live in urban, the median age is 29.7, the population structure is younger than most of the countries.
For Dosmanbetov, the Belt and Road Initiative can bring infrastructure financing, technology partnerships, and cross-border connectivity which build the framework of creating a digital Kazakhstan. Photo by Bastillepost.
Kazakhstan is also the important hub of the Silk Road Economic Belt, China and Kazakhstan have reached multiple cooperations in railways and Caspian sea shipping, building China-Europe railways and cross Caspian sea corridor together, which becomes the Eurasia transport hub.
Action plan on the Belt and Road Initiative made by China and Kazakhstan covers green mining, agriculture modernization, engineer technology and so on, strengthening the cooperation in defense industry is also included.
Dosmanbetov points out that the demonstration effect of the issuance includes that other banks, corporates and infrastructure companies in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia now have a proven model for raising RMB capital in Hong Kong to finance projects like energy transition and digital infrastructure.
For investors from Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area, Dosmanbetov recommends the most promising areas in Kazakhstan including AI applications, fin-tech, renewable and green energy, smart logistics, advanced manufacturing and deep agricultural processing.
Dosmanbetov introduces that AIFC provides an English-law jurisdiction, long-term tax exemptions on corporate income, capital gains and dividends , simplified visa and work-permit procedures to better facilitate the investors. Special economic zones and industrial parks are also provided.
Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong and Macau SAR' s, PRC. Photo by Bastillepost.
“Kazakhstan is a young and forward-looking state,” says Dosmanbetov, “we give Hong Kong companies not only market access, but also clear pathways to participate in building Kazakhstan’s digital economy and AI-driven industries.”
