The Hong Kong Smart Identity Card System (SMARTICS) has won the Gold Award of the Application Category of 6th IT Excellence Awards conferred by the Hong Kong Computer Society.

According to a government press release, the Director of Immigration Lai Tung-kwok received the award Friday on behalf of the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

Lai said the Smart Identity Card System was a complicated system with state-of-the-art technology.

"The ID card with multi-application is not only an identification document but lays a solid foundation for e-applications and e-commerce. Hong Kong people enjoy a wide range of new services including the automated clearance system to be implemented at control points by the end of this year," he said.

SMARTICS comprises a number of sub-systems integrated seamlessly to support the processing of application and personalization of the very secure smart identity cards.

The processing of application which can be completed in 15 to 30 minutes is supported by the Registration of Persons sub-system. It employs advanced technologies providing one-stop services to applicants in a paperless environment.

Personalization of the smart identity card is performed by the fully automated laser-engraving machines driven by the Card Personalization and Management sub-system. This sub-system also serves to ensure loading of information onto the chip from various sources in a most secure and privacy-positive manner.

Protected by sophisticated cryptography techniques, data and information in the chip cannot be altered or accessed by unauthorized parties.

Editor: Donald