The Hong Kong Immigration Department announced yesterday that the Automated Immigration Clearance (e-Channel) Service will be extended to eligible passport holders of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from today. Those aged 11 or above who hold a valid PRC electronic ordinary passport can use the e-channel service, via face recognition technology, when transiting through Hong Kong to or from another country or territory without prior enrolment for the service. However, the new arrangement does not apply to PRC passport holders entering Hong Kong on the strength of an “Entry Permit for Hong Kong” issued by overseas Chinese diplomatic and consular missions. Such passport holders will still have to complete arrival clearance at immigration counters