Immigration Department implements Advance Passenger Information System
The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced that the Advance Passenger Information (API) System was implemented today (September 3).
To meet the aviation security requirements of the Convention on International Civil Aviation and to align Hong Kong with other aviation hubs worldwide, as well as to enable the ImmD to further enhance its passenger clearance and enforcement capabilities to prevent undesirables, including potential non-refoulement claimants, from boarding flights heading to Hong Kong, the ImmD implemented the API System today, requiring aircraft operators to comply with the Immigration (Advance Passenger Information) Regulation (Cap. 115Q) by transmitting advance information to the ImmD about flights and passengers heading to Hong Kong.
An ImmD spokesman said, "During check-in for a flight heading to Hong Kong, the aircraft operator will capture the required API data from a traveller's travel document and transmit the API data of each traveller and the aircraft information to the API System, which will instantly process the information and provide a response message, i.e. a board or no-board direction, for each traveller back to the aircraft operator. The aircraft operator shall act upon the direction given through the API System, i.e. to allow or not allow specific travellers to board the aircraft heading to Hong Kong."
To allow sufficient time for over 100 aircraft operators to connect to the API system and to ensure the system will run in a smooth and orderly manner, the rollout will be carried out in phases. A transitional period of around 12 months will also be adopted. The offences and defences, and the miscellaneous provisions under Parts 4 and 5 of the Regulation will come into effect after the transitional period, starting from September 1, 2025.
The spokesman emphasised, "The freedom to travel and the right of Hong Kong residents to enter or leave Hong Kong are guaranteed under Article 31 of the Basic Law and Article 8 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights as set out in the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance (Cap.383). Such freedom and right are not affected by the implementation of the API System. The API system will not issue a no-board direction against Hong Kong permanent residents who enjoy the right of abode in Hong Kong."
Source: AI-generated images
Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 3) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
Thirty-seven beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and three as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Big Wave Bay Beach*
Lido Beach*
Butterfly Beach*
Lo So Shing Beach
Cafeteria New Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Casam Beach*
Middle Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach
Pui O Beach*
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*
Repulse Bay Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach
Shek O Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach
Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*
Silverstrand Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach*
South Bay Beach*
Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach [Non-gazetted beach]
St Stephen's Beach
Golden Beach*
Stanley Main Beach*
Hap Mun Bay Beach*
Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Tong Fuk Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach*
Trio Beach
Kadoorie Beach*
Turtle Cove Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach
Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Kwun Yam Beach
Grade 2 beaches are:
Anglers' Beach*
Ting Kau Beach*
Approach Beach
Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.
A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the EPD's dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast).
Note 1: Lifesaving services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 22 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from April 1. For details, please refer to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's Special Announcement (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index.html).
Note 2: This refers to Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach which has no lifesaving service.
