Arrangements for Registration of Persons services after Registration of Persons - Kwun Tong (Temporary) Office to cease operation
The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (June 18) that the Registration of Persons (ROP) - Kwun Tong (Temporary) Office will cease to operate in October this year, as planned.
Currently, the ROP - Kwun Tong (Temporary) Office processes the following types of identity card applications:replacement with new smart identity cards for persons still holding old identity cards, replacement of juvenile or adult identity cards for persons already holding identity cards who have reached 11 or 18 years of age, replacement of permanent identity cards for persons holding Hong Kong Identity Cards with their eligibility for permanent identity cards verified, and replacement of identity cards for persons whose identity cards have been lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced.
The ROP - Kwun Tong (Temporary) Office will provide identity card application services until October 11 this year and will cease to accept identity card applications thereafter. Notwithstanding, applicants can still collect their new identity cards at the ROP - Kwun Tong (Temporary) Office until October 25. After the ROP - Kwun Tong (Temporary) Office ceases to operate, applicants who have yet to collect their new identity cards are required to collect them at the ROP - Tseung Kwan O Office.
Members of the public who wish to submit identity card applications on or after October 13 can make an appointment at any of the other six ROP Offices starting from tomorrow (June 19). They may make an appointment by scanning the QR codes (see Annex I) to download the ImmD mobile application or via the Internet (www.gov.hk/icbooking) and fill in the application form in advance when making the appointment for a faster and more convenient application process. Persons with an urgent need to replace their identity cards that have been lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced may visit any ROP Office without an appointment. The staff will offer assistance based on individual circumstances. For the addresses and working hours of the ROP Offices, please refer to Annex II.
Eligible persons can also use the Personal Documentation Submission Kiosks (PDSKs) located at the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O for identity card applications in a self-service manner, which does not require an appointment. For the types of identity card applications that can be processed via the PDSKs, as well as the address and service hours of the PDSKs, please refer to Annex III.
The ImmD reminds the public that all old forms of smart identity cards bearing a year of birth in or after 1970 have already become invalid on May 12 this year. Old forms of smart identity cards bearing a year of birth in or before 1969 will become invalid on October 12 this year. The ImmD appeals to residents still holding old forms of smart identity cards to replace them with new smart identity cards as soon as possible. For those who are unable to have their identity cards replaced during the specified call-up periods under the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise due to being absent from Hong Kong, they should replace their identity cards within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong.
For details of the ROP services, invalidation of old forms of smart identity cards and the replacement arrangements, please visit the ImmD website (www.immd.gov.hk). For enquiries, please contact the ImmD via the enquiry hotline (2824 6111), by fax (2877 7711) or by email (enquiry@immd.gov.hk).
Update on chikungunya fever
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced that, as of 5pm today (January 4), no new cases of chikungunya fever (CF) had been recorded.
Latest surveillance data
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Hong Kong has recorded a total of 82 confirmed CF cases last year. Among them, 11 were local cases, and the rest were imported cases.
Since the beginning of 2025, and as of December 10, 2025, a total of 502 264 CF cases and 186 CF-related deaths have been reported in over 40 countries/territories. Cases have been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Although the northern hemisphere has entered the winter season, temperatures in subtropical and some temperate regions remain elevated due to climate change, creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. In addition, CF outbreaks continue to occur in many countries worldwide. The risk of imported cases persists. Members of the public should check the situation of the destinations before travelling abroad, especially when travelling to Southeast Asian countries.
Government's comprehensive follow-up actions
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Given that some local cases of CF have visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area in November last year, the trails are currently closed until further notice. Relevant government departments continue to conduct large-scale mosquito control and prevention efforts along the trails, and the CHP appeals to the public not to enter the area in order to reduce the risk of contracting CF and to avoid exposure to chemicals or interfering with the mosquito control operations. Since the confirmation on December 10, 2025, of a case involving a person who had visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails on November 30, 2025, no further local cases have been recorded to date. The CHP continues to urge individuals who have recently hiked along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails to seek medical attention as soon as possible if they develop relevant symptoms and to call the enquiry hotline (Tel: 2125 2373), which operates from 9am to 6pm.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been continuously conducting intensive fogging operations to eliminate adult mosquitoes along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails and the surrounding area. At suitable locations, large ultra-low volume foggers have been deployed, and a robot dog is being put on trial to enhance operational effectiveness. The FEHD has also set up new mosquito trapping devices, cleared discarded containers and garbage that could cause stagnant water, and applied larvicide oil or larvicides in areas with stagnant water that cannot be removed immediately. The FEHD has been collaborating with the Kwai Tsing District Office, the Lands Department and the Drainage Services Department to strengthen efforts in eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails. Pamphlets have been distributed to hikers in the area, urging citizens to be vigilant against mosquito infestations and take personal protective measures. The FEHD has also held meetings of the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work across districts to discuss the latest developments regarding the situation and plan accordingly to co-ordinate relevant departments and stakeholders in strengthening mosquito prevention and control measures in areas under their purview.
Continuously strengthening prevention and control
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The FEHD and relevant departments have comprehensively enhanced the mosquito control operations in Hong Kong since July last year, and this has continued. Among these, the FEHD has conducted vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations against the imported and local cases. In light of the local case, the FEHD has immediately conducted follow-up actions, including:
carrying out intensive fogging in scrubby areas within a 250-metre radius of the relevant locations to kill adult mosquitoes;
carrying out inspections of the locations, removing stagnant water, applying insecticides and disposing of abandoned water containers every week with a view to preventing mosquito breeding; and
enhancing public education efforts through organising health talks, setting up mobile education stations, and distributing publicity leaflets.
The abovementioned measures will be continued. Furthermore, the Government will further enhance the mosquito control efforts in addition to the existing measures.
Preventive measures to be taken by the public
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Members of the public should use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:
read the label instructions carefully first;
apply right before entering an area with a risk of mosquito bites;
apply on exposed skin and clothing;
use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children (for children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent);
apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent;
reapply only when needed and follow the instructions; and
in addition to DEET, there are other insect repellents available on the market containing different active ingredients, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When using any insect repellent, the public should follow the usage instructions and precautions on the product label.
The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and property management agencies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of theCHPand theTravel Health Service, the latestTravel Health News,tips for using insect repellents, and the CHPFacebook Page,Instagram AccountandYouTube Channel, and also theMosquito Prevention and Control dedicated pageof the FEHD.
Source: AI-found images
