Starting on Thursday, holders of Chinese mainland electronic passports who are transiting through Hong Kong to or from overseas destinations can use the city’s automated border clearance gates.

Announcing the arrangement on Wednesday, the Immigration Department said travelers aged 11 or above who hold a valid electronic ordinary passport issued by the mainland authorities, and who are transiting through Hong Kong to another country or territory, will be able to use the city’s the Automated Immigration Clearance, also known as e-Channels, at all checkpoints without prior registration.

The expansion aims to streamline the entry process for eligible transit passengers, said the department.

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However, mainland passport holders entering the city with an Entry Permit for Hong Kong — usually issued by Chinese embassies or consulates abroad — must continue to use the manual counters for immigration clearance.

Currently, holders of mainland passports who are in transit through Hong Kong to and from another country or territory may be granted a stay of seven days in the city at each landing, without the prior need to obtain an entry permit if travelers have met normal immigration requirements.

As one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) handled 53.1 million passenger trips in 2024, of which 22 percent were transit and transfer passengers.

To improve the border clearance experience for transit passengers, the control point at the HKIA was made into a pilot site in December to enable eligible residents holding valid electronic mainland passports to use e-Channels without prior registration.

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The Immigration Department said it will further optimize e-Channel and other immigration clearance services, providing travelers with a more convenient and efficient experience.

Huang Yawen contributed to the story.