The Macau government has announced that it will study the possibility of adopting the latest biometric technologies in e-channels at the Macau-mainland joint checkpoints where the “joint inspection and one-time release” system is operating.
The Office of Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak referred to the issue in a reply to a written interpellation made by directly-elected lawmaker-cum-unionist Leong Sun Iok in November. The office made and signed the reply last month, copies of which were released by Leong’s office to the media on Saturday.
The “joint inspection and one-time release” model is a joint Macau-mainland immigration clearance system adopted at Macau-mainland joint checkpoints where border crossers are required to pass border controls only once when completing their departure and arrival formalities.
Currently, three of Macau’s land border checkpoints with Zhuhai are Macau-mainland joint checkpoints, namely the Macau-Zhuhai checkpoint of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB), the Hengqin checkpoint, and the Qingmao pedestrian border checkpoint.
Macau’s busiest land border checkpoint, the Barrier Gate checkpoint, is not a Macau-mainland joint checkpoint. After border crossers en route to the mainland complete their departure formalities at the Barrier Gate checkpoint, they are required to pass through an area before entering Zhuhai’s Gongbei checkpoint where they need to complete their arrival formalities.
Macau’s immigration service is run by the Public Security Police (PSP).
At the three Macau-mainland joint checkpoints, border crossers can choose to use traditional manual inspection counters. After border crossers en route to the mainland present their ID documents at the Macau-side immigration counters to complete their departure formalities, they immediately pass the mainland-side counter where they present their ID documents to complete their arrival formalities.
Border crossers can also choose to use e-channels at the three Macau-mainland joint checkpoints, where border crossers en route to the mainland are only required to have their ID documents needed to enter the mainland scanned, without having to present their ID documents needed for leaving Macau.
However, in addition to fingerprint scans, border crossers are also required to pass facial recognition when using the Macau-mainland joint checkpoints’ e-channels.
Likewise, border crossers en route to Macau are only required to have their ID documents for entering Macau scanned when using the Macau-mainland joint checkpoints’ e-channels.
This undated handout photo released by the Public Security Police (PSP) early this month shows a border crosser passing an e-channel with the assistance of a PSP officer when entering Macau in the Qingmao checkpoint.
Fingerprint & facial recognition
In his written interpellation, Leong said that many local residents told him that when passing through the Qingmao checkpoint, it was difficult to have their fingerprints successfully recognised by e-channels so that they ended up only being able to complete their departure and arrival formalities with the assistance of immigration officers.
Leong also said that some border crossers even licked their fingers and put them on the scanner again after the e-channel could not recognise their fingerprints.
According to Leong’s written interpellation, some residents also told him that it was also difficult to pass through facial recognition at the Qingmao checkpoint’s e-channels.
Leong asked the government whether it has identified the causes that made it difficult for some border crossers to pass finger scans or facial recognition at the Qingmao checkpoint’s e-channels and whether it was planning any measures to fix the problem.
Leong also asked the government whether it will plan to upgrade the technology installed for e-channels at Macau-mainland joint checkpoints.
In its reply to Leong’s written interpellation, Wong’s office said that some border crossers could not have their fingerprints successfully read by the scanners possibly due to their fingerprints being affected by wear or dryness. Consequently, checkpoint staff have prepared moisture sprays for border crossers for their fingers making it easier for them to pass e-channels, the office said.
The office also pledged in the reply that the Public Security Police (PSP), in collaboration with the Macau Public Security Forces Affairs Bureau (DSFSM), will constantly improve border-crossing IT systems and equipment. In addition, the police will pay close attention to the latest development in biometric technology worldwide and study the possibility of adopting new technologies in border-crossing facilities.
No iris recognition at Macau-mainland joint checkpoints
Meanwhile, Leong’s written interpellation also asked the government whether it will study the possibility of adopting iris recognition at the Macau-mainland joint checkpoints’ e-channels, like other checkpoints in general.
After a trial operation, 10 e-channels equipped with iris recognition officially came into use at the Barrier Gate checkpoint in October 2023.
The office’s reply to Leong’s written interpellation noted that following the installation of the first 10 channels at the Barrier Gate checkpoint, in 2024 the police installed their iris recognition system at 71 additional e-channels, at the Barrier Gate checkpoint, the Macau-Hong Kong checkpoint of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB), the airport, the Taipa Ferry Terminal, the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, and the Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal.
Consequently, the reply said, there are currently 81 e-channels equipped with iris recognition in border checkpoints in Macau.
At e-channels equipped with iris recognition, travellers can choose to use fingerprint recognition or iris recognition when completing their departure or arrival formalities.
However, only Macau residents can register to use iris recognition.
Concerning the possibility of adopting iris recognition at the Macau-mainland joint checkpoints’ e-channels, the reply underlined that the matter would involve the mainland’s legal matters. Consequently, the office said, for the time being iris recognition still cannot be adopted in the Macau-mainland joint checkpoints because the matter would require an in-depth study involving both sides.
