The Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise was completed on March 31, 2007, and arrangements had been made to declare old identity cards issued before June 23, 2003, invalid by batches, an Immigration Department spokesman said today (July 12).

Old identity cards bearing the year of birth from 1958 up to and including 1969 have been invalidated since October 16, 2006, and those bearing the year of birth from 1943 up to and including 1957 have been invalidated since January 15, 2007.

"Old identity cards specified below shall lose their validity on September 17, 2007:

1970/ 1971/ 1972/ 1973/ 1974/

1975/ 1976/ 1977/ 1978/ 1979

Holders of old identity cards who cannot have their identity cards replaced during the specified call-up periods due to their absence from Hong Kong should apply within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong," the spokesman said.

Residents who have not yet replaced their identity cards during their specified call-up periods should immediately apply at any of the Registration of Persons Offices.Failure to apply for a new identity card within the specified call-up periods without reasonable excuse is an offence. Offenders may be prosecuted and are liable to a fine of $5,000.

The invalidation of old identity cards will not affect the holders right of abode in Hong Kong unless he or she has lost permanent resident status under the Immigration Ordinance, Laws of Hong Kong.