Digital images of the owners’ thumbprints are the main advance in Hong Kong’s latest round of smart ID card developments, set to be used for the first time in 2003.
Kong is to introduce a smart dentity card in 2003 that will contain a digital image of the owner’s thumbprint.

The cards – to be phased in over four years – are designed to tackle the widespread problem of forgery that has so bedevilled existing laminated ID cards, writes Mark Rowe.

An international consortium is set to implement the scheme, headed up by the electronics division of Pacific Century Cyberworks (the Hong Kong-based telecommunications concern that has secured the HK$162 million first phase of the contract).

As well as digital thumbprints, the new cards will also support additional information including e-wallets and medical records, and will be integrated into corporate ID security systems.

Other personal details which have raised privacy concerns may be included on an optional basis. Driving licences, library cards and even electronic purses are in the frame here. At first the smart card system, designated SmartICS (Smart Identity Card System), will issue 1.2 million computer-encrypted smart cards before being rolled out for each and every one of Hong Kong’s estimated 6.8 million inhabitants.

A major reason behind the development is to target temporary residents by allowing Hong Kong’s Immigration Department to monitor the lengths and conditions of stay among temporary workers in the former British colony.

Other industry partners involved in the scheme include our very own Mondex International, Australia’s Keycorp, ACI Worldwide and another important Hong Kong-based outfit, SecureNet.

  • Bell Group has announced that its smart card management software subsidiary Bell ID has been successful in obtaining its first contract for a national ID card deploying ANDiS technology. This has been achieved through Siemens Business Services and the main contractor – Siemens Ltd, Macau – together with Giesecke & Devrient and NEC.

    The consortium has been awarded the HK$100 million contract to provide a multifunctional ID card solution enabling e-Government for Macau SAR. Beginning this year, over 500,000 smart security cards will be issued to Macau residents.

  • In another smart card contract, North America-based system developer Smart Card Integrators and Sagem – the technology group – have announced joint development efforts on the W-OS operating system.

    W-OS is an open smart card operating system offering worldwide interoperability and third party licensing opportunities.

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