TD launches electronic driving licence to offer additional option of mobile phone display
The Transport Department (TD) today (September 15) launched the electronic driving licence (eDL) to bring greater convenience and flexibility to some 2.5 million DL holders who can display the eDL through their smartphones, thereby advancing smart mobility.
From today onwards, DL holders can download the TD's "Electronic Driving Licence" mobile application (eDL app) for free and authenticate with "iAM Smart" (Hong Kong identity (HKID) card holders) or the TD's e-Licensing Portal (e-LP) (elicensingportal.td.gov.hk/login) (non-HKID card holders) account to log in and access their eDLs, covering full, learner's, probationary and temporary DLs, as well as the driving instructor's licence. The eDL is an alternative to the physical DL to fulfil the statutory requirements of carrying or producing a DL for examination or inspection by law enforcement officers.
The eDL provides data in sync with the information contained in the physical DL, including the holder's name, the DL number, the class(es) of vehicle permitted to drive and the expiry date(s). The status of the eDL is indicated in blue, yellow or red, showing a valid, a partially valid (e.g. individual DL category being valid, but another category expired) or an expired DL respectively. The eDL can only be displayed via the TD's eDL app in the specified form with multiple security features to avoid counterfeiting, including identity authentication, a dynamic TD logo, the disabled screen capture function and an encrypted time-limited QR code. Each DL holder can only register one eDL account, and each mobile phone can only be used to bind to one account at a time.
A spokesman for the TD said, "The current arrangement of issuing the physical DL remains unchanged, and DL holders may use it at their preference. If applicants submit DL applications online, they can immediately access their eDLs via the eDL app conveniently and swiftly upon approval and do not need to wait for the physical DL sent by post."
From August, the TD has briefed representatives of the transport sector, comprising the goods vehicle, taxi, public light bus, non-franchised bus and cross-boundary coach trades, as well as driving schools, on the use of the eDL, and maintained close liaison with law enforcement agencies and relevant departments. The TD will also notify the relevant Mainland and overseas authorities or consulates in Hong Kong of the launch of the eDL.
In the past year, the TD has introduced various e-licensing services. They include the enhanced vehicle licensing arrangement, saving the need for vehicle owners to replace the paper licence after renewal, together with the simplified application document requirements; the development of the e-LP as a one-stop online platform for managing licences; setting up International Driving Permit (IDP) Self-service Kiosks; and the launch of an E-Auction platform enabling the public to bid for their desired vehicle registration marks online. Applications for most licences and driving test services can now be submitted online. At present, about 60 per cent of IDP applications and 50 per cent of full driving licence renewal applications are submitted online.
The eDL app supports iOS and Android operating systems. Members of the public can download and use it for free from the Apple App Store, Google Play or Huawei AppGallery.
The Road Traffic (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, passed by the Legislative Council earlier, came into effect today. The Government specified the eDL's platform and form by a notice published in the Gazette today. DL holders may refer to the TD's thematic webpage and the Agent T Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AgentT.hk) for details.
TD launches electronic driving licence to offer additional option of mobile phone display Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.
An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."
The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
