According to the Registration of Persons Ordinance, non-local students must apply for a Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID card) at the Immigration Department within 30 days of arrival.  You are, therefore, required to apply for an HKID card in person at the Immigration Department as soon as possible upon arrival.  You may make an advanced booking via the Immigration Department's 24-hour Appointment Booking Service for Hong Kong Smart Identity Card application at 2598 0888 or at www.gov.hk/icbooking. In making an appointment, you need to enter the number of your travel document as the number of the identity document.

Please produce your travel document for the application.  There is no charge for the issuance of HKID cards to new arrivals.  The processing normally takes about 10 working days (i.e. excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays).

Once you get the HKID card, you are entitled to use the government medical services at local rates.  You should complete and return Form AR1 with a copy of the HKID card to the Academic Registry in person at the AR Service Centre.  You are required to carry your HKID card at all times in Hong Kong.  In case you have lost it, you should report to the Police immediately and apply for a replacement at the Immigration Department within 14 days or, if it is lost or damaged outside Hong Kong, within 14 days of your return.  A fee will be charged for the replacement.