E-Channels, also known as The Automated Passenger Clearance System, is a border control system introduced by the Hong Kong Immigration Department back in 2004, designed to speed up border immigration processes for residents of Hong Kong, Macau and frequent visitors to Hong Kong entering and exiting the territory whether it be by land, air or sea via the use of self-service kiosks employed at various border control points.

Basic Requirements to use the E-Channels

• A Hong Kong permanent resident aged 11 or above (using a smart identity card)
• A Hong Kong resident aged 11 or above holding a Document of Identity for Visa Purposes (using a smart identity card and carrying a valid Document of Identity for Visa Purposes)
• A person aged 11 or above who has the right to land or is on unconditional stay in Hong Kong (using a smart identity card)
• A non-permanent resident issued with a notification label (using a smart identity card and carrying a valid travel document)
• A registered cross-boundary primary school student under the age of 11 (using the enrolled valid travel document)
• A registered frequent visitor aged 18 or above (using the enrolled valid travel document)
• A registered Macau permanent resident aged 11 or above (using a Macau permanent identity card)

The user upon entrance to the E-Channel inserts his Hong Kong Identity Card

Hong Kong Identity Card

The Hong Kong Identity Card is an official identity document issued by the Immigration Department of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card is a class of HKID issued to Hong Kong residents who have the right of abode in Hong Kong SAR. According to the Registration of Persons Ordinance...

 into the card reader (which reads the embedded chip) or place his registered travel document / Macau Identity Card onto the document reader, the channel gate will open, the user takes his resident card and steps in and the gate will close behind him, next he would be requested to place his thumb or finger onto the fingerprint reader, once identity has been confirmed, another set of gates in front of him will open allowing him to pass. If an issue arises whether identity cannot be confirmed or a malfunction occurs, an immigration supervisor will be on hand to assist.

Locations

First made available on 16 December 2004 in Lo Wu Control Point, over the past several years the locations have expanded to include:

• Hong Kong International Airport
  Hong Kong International Airport
  Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial...
  
  
• Lo Wu
  Lo Wu
  Lo Wu or Lowu is an area in North District, New Territories, Hong Kong. It lies on the borders between Hong Kong and mainland China, specifically the Luohu District of Shenzhen in mainland China. The area is most notable as the location of the most heavily used immigration control point for...
  
   Control Point
• Hung Hom
  Hung Hom
  Hung Hom is an area of Kowloon, in Hong Kong, administratively part of the Kowloon City District, with a portion west of the railway in the Yau Tsim Mong District. Hung Hom serves mainly residential purposes though is mixed with some industrial buildings in the north.-Geography:Hung Hom is located...
  
  
• Lok Ma Chau
  Lok Ma Chau
  Lok Ma Chau or Lokmachau is a village in Hong Kong's New Territories and also a major pedestrian and road border crossing point between Hong Kong and mainland China. It lies just south of the Sham Chun River , which forms the border between Hong Kong and mainland China...
  
  
• Lok Ma Chau Spur Line
  Lok Ma Chau Spur line
  The Lok Ma Chau Spur Line is the second railway link between Hong Kong and Mainland China, relieving passenger congestion at Lo Wu Station. The alignment branches off the existing MTR East Rail Line north of Sheung Shui Station and then runs to the Lok Ma Chau Station where customs and...
  
  
• Man Kam To
  Man Kam To
  Man Kam To or Mankamto is a place in the North District, New Territories, Hong Kong near the border with Shenzhen of mainland China.-Border:...
  
  
• Sha Tau Kok
  Sha Tau Kok
  Sha Tau Kok or Shataukok or Sathewkok is a town in the northeastern corner of Hong Kong. Located on the border with mainland China, there is another town of same Chinese name, Shatoujiao, romanized using Hanyu Pinyin, across the Sham Chun River-defined border in Shenzhen of mainland...
  
  
• Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal
  Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal
  Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal is a ferry terminal, located at China Hong Kong City, 33 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is one of three cross-border ferry terminals in Hong Kong....
  
  
• Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal
• Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal
• Shenzhen Bay

By allowing registered users to utilise the self-service kiosks to pass through Hong Kong immigration, processing time averages around 12 seconds making E-channels far more efficient than traditional immigration counters.

Macau

Since its first inception where only Right to Abode Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card holders were permitted to use the self-service kiosks, the program expanded in 12 September 2006; allowing not only those of Right to Land or those with unconditional stay in Hong Kong but also to those non-residents with notification labels to use the E-Channels.

The program was expanded further again in 10 December 2009 to allow holders of Macau Resident Identity Card

Macau Special Administrative Region Resident Identity Card

The Macau Special Administrative Region Resident Identity Card is an official identity card valid in the Macau Special Administrative Region. There are two types for Resident Identity Cards: one for permanent residents, and one for non-permanent residents....

 to register for and use of the Hong Kong E-channels to enter and exit the territory.

Vice versa, Macau

Macau

Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...

 have reciprocated and have their set of E-Channels and Hong Kong ID Card holders can register for those as well. Border cities to Macau and Hong Kong on the Mainland China's side - Zhuhai

Zhuhai

Zhuhai is a prefecture-level city on the southern coast of Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in the Pearl River Delta, Zhuhai borders Jiangmen to the northwest, Zhongshan to the north, and Macau to the south. Zhuhai was one of the original Special Economic Zones...

 and Shenzhen

Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...

 (respectively) have their set of E-channels for use of the Home Return Permit

Home Return Permit

A ‘Home Return Permit’ , also referred to as a ‘Home Visit Permit’ or ‘China Back Home Pass’ , is the colloquial name for the national identity document officially known as the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents issued to PRC citizens who are permanent residents of Hong Kong...

 cards.

Example:
A Hong Kong resident arrives at Lo Wu and passes through Hong Kong's E-Channel with his Hong Kong Identity Card allowing him to exit Hong Kong, upon approaching a border check point at Shenzhen, he uses his Home Return Permit on China's E-Channel to enter Mainland China. Thereby cutting down time compared with using traditional immigration counters.

Or

A Hong Kong resident departs from the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal clearing through Hong Kong immigration via E-channel, upon arrival of Macau's Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, he can use his Hong Kong Identity Card to clear through Macau's set of E-Channels, instead of queuing up at immigration counters.

Frequent Visitor Automated Passenger Clearance

Not only has Macau Resident Card holders been permitted to register for this program but frequent visitors to Hong Kong can register for this as well, this is known as Frequent Visitor Automated Passenger Clearance, you would need a valid travel document with a multiple visit visa (if applicable), plus on one of the following documents:

• A valid HKSAR Travel Pass or
• An APEC Business Travel Card
  APEC Business Travel Card
  The APEC Business Travel Card is a travel document issued to business travellers who are citizens of APEC participating economies. Valid for three years, the card eliminates the need for its holder to possess a visa when visiting other APEC participating economies as long as pre-clearance has been...
  
   with the economy code ‘HKG’ or
• Hong Kong International Airport Frequent Visitor Card or
• Frequent Flyer Programme Membership Card issued by an airline which has joined this arrangement (please enquire with your airline).

One Stop Customs and Immigration Clearance

A special E-Channel has been erected for Shenzhen Bay known as One Stop Customs and Immigration Clearance for goods vehicle passing through the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, indicating how versatile this system is, and an asset for the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

See also

• Smartgate
  Smartgate
  SmartGate is an automated border processing system being introduced by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and New Zealand Customs Service. It is a secure and simple system that performs the customs and immigration checks normally made by a Customs Officer when a traveller arrives...
  
  
• Global Entry
  Global Entry
  Global Entry is a program being piloted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to receive expedited clearance upon arrival into the United States.-Enrollment:...
  
  
• NEXUS (frequent traveler program)
• Airport of Entry
  Airport of Entry
  An airport of entry is an airport that provides customs and immigration services for incoming flights. These services allow the airport to serve as an initial port of entry for foreign visitors arriving in a country.-Africa:-Americas:-Asia:...
  
  
• Port of entry
  Port of entry
  In general, a port of entry is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. It typically has a staff of people who check passports and visas and inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported. International airports are usually ports of entry, as are road and rail crossings on a...