Residents to see new ID design

A new ID card design is the core of a proposed amendment to the ID card Executive Regulations, the Executive Council (ExCo) announced over the weekend.

The government’s reason for a new design is that the current design has been in use for 10 years since first being issued in 2013. Updating the system is crucial to the security of the card, the government added. Both software and hardware, as well as the card’s encryption technologies and security features will be updated.

The change of design is necessary to facilitate the upgrades, the ExCo explained. The overall design will follow the current version of the card, although the location of some details will be changed.

The name of the card will be moved from the back to the front, while the full official name of the city and the country will appear on the back. The city’s emblem will be relocated to the top-center of the back side.

The bearer’s height, the card’s first issuance date and the birthplace code will be removed from the face of the card but can be accessed digitally through a card reader.

Meanwhile, digital applications will be permitted.

Security features such as color-printed window, tactile features and color ultraviolet printing will be introduced.

The newly designed ID will be available by application from Dec. 15, but existing cards may continue being used until they expire.

On e-governance

The ExCo has also announced a bill concerning e-governance.

Changes in four areas are proposed in the bill. The government will strive to go paperless in correspondence between the Executive and the Judiciary as well as government-funded enterprises.

Digital documents and their paper counterparts will have equal authority, including public notices.

Should the bill be made into law, residents will be allowed to submit documents digitally. Notifications from the government, meanwhile, will also be sent digitally and considered viewed after three days of successful delivery.

The probative force of digital documents and data will be clarified to cope with public services. Digital registration and notarization will be more widely available.

Tax charges for the issuance of testimonials or documentations will also be updated to address proposals in the bill.

Restructuring of SMG announced

Currently, the bureau has a structure consisting of four divisions and five clusters. It will be restructured to two departments and six divisions.

The two departments will be responsible for meteorology and warnings, as well as geophysics, supervision and planning. Each will lead two divisions. The remaining two divisions will be directly under the bureau director.

The restructuring will commence Dec. 1.

On April 1, 2024, a new law governing elevation equipment will be enacted. A supplementary set of Executive Regulations will be enacted on the same day, the ExCo announced.

The Regulations stipulate technical guidelines on such equipment in terms of installation, maintenance, inspection and type test. It also stipulates the quality certifications required. for the planning and application for inspections of such equipment. The issuance body of type test certifications is also clarified.