Apart from immigration control, the Department has a Registration of Persons division where Hong Kong residents go to register births, deaths and marriages and obtain identity cards.
Since 1 July 1997, under the auspices of the Basic Law of Hong Kong and explanations on implementing the Nationality Law, both by PRC lawmakers, the Immigration Department issues the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport and other international travel documents on its own, and is in charge of administering the Nationality Law within its realms. This is a rare exception to the rule that issuing passports and administering nationality-related matters are usually under the purview of an authority of the central/national government of a state.
The Department is headquartered in the Immigration Tower in Wan Chai North.
Directors of the Immigration Department (Since July 1, 1997)
