Local UK passport applications to be processed in Hong Kong

Starting February 8, British passport applications from the Philippines will be processed in Hong Kong, hinting that the move will make it difficult for criminals to produce counterfeit documents.

The UK Embassy said it wants the British passport to remain trusted as a secure document, and to make it hard to forge or obtain through fraud, an article on its website said.

“The British passport is trusted as a secure document the world over. We want to keep it that way so that British travellers continue to enjoy the convenience and benefits of a travel document which is known to be difficult to forge or obtain fraudulently," the website quotes British Consul Joanne Finnamore-Crorkin as saying. “Limiting the number of locations where passports are printed will reduce the risk of them falling into the wrong hands."

Teams specialized in passport examination, fraud detection, and secure document technology will run the new processing centers, the article said

The embassy also said the changes intend to help the UK government deliver a more streamlined, efficient, and secure system and to control costs of new passports.

British nationals in the Philippines will be required to submit their applications to the British Embassy Manila.

This application will be forwarded to the British Consulate Hong Kong.

Once the new passport is ready, it will be sent directly to the applicant in the Philippines.

“There will though be a charge for the courier fee," said Finnamore-Crorkin.

Since passport applications will be processed at the regional Passport Processing Centers, applicants will need to allow extra time for their applications to be sent to and from the Processing Center, the embassy said.

However, the UK government will still aim to issue at least 90 percent of all straightforward passports applications within 10 working days of receipt of the correct documents and fee, “although this will exclude the time taken for delivery of the new passport."

However, the UK Embassy in Manila said it will continue to issue travel documents for applicants who need to travel in case of emergency. - GMANews.TV

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