Hong Kong Airport Is Adding A (Poorly Thought Out) Fast Track Security Channel

I think there's a. it of confusion, here, as some people talk about depature immigration (i.e. emigration) and others about arrival immigration. I think Lucky was referring to depatures, which in HKG consists of two,check points: First security and second "emigration" (i.e. immigration officers checking passports/visas of persons departing. Frankly, the US, Canada or the UK have no departure passport check by government officers: You go through security and right to the gate. Obviously, these countries typically require API to be filled by the airline, so they also have a record of who departed. In HKG (similar to continental Europe, Austraila or New Zealand, however, there is separate check point, staffed with immigration officers. There are indeed not many countries who provide a government service at different service levels, for premium and non-premium passengers, as this would be seen as non constitutional. So, Lucky, that's perhaps a bit too mich to ask. Talking about HKG, I find it at the lengthy end of the spectrum for all three, immigration, emigration, security - but still bearable. Smaller airports tend to be better, for obvious reasons.

Mallthus: "At the end of the day, regardless of the “two systems” mantra, Hong Kong is still China and immigration is a bureaucratic function. No amount of money, largesse, or pandering is gonna get anybody through there faster unless someone in Beijing decides it’s a good idea." You really don't know what you're talking about, do you? Immigration in and out of HK is wholly in the hands of HK Immigration Department. The under-staffing and lack of care which others have commented on here, they own 100%. There is enough reasons to bash Beijing's interference in HK, but this is just not one of them, and the SAR government can't use Beijing as a fig leaf here. It is strange because in other matters - like handling residency issues - I find them quite efficient and even friendly. Of course, as a resident, 99% of my encounters are with those awesome thumb-reading E-channels, which have made going through HK airport a breeze for us residents for many years now.

Hong Kong airport has oneof the quickest immigration line called e-channel for everyone who has HKID card. It takes less than few minutes to get through the line.

Who uses regular immigration lines these days? Anyone with a frequent flier card is eligible for eChannel at HKG, sign up takes about 3 mins.

Even you can come out earlier from immgration you have to wait for your bags