Immigration Tower marks end of an era with TKO beginning The Immigration Department has bid farewell to its long-standing Wan Chai headquarters, which had served as its home for the past 34 years. Today, it officially moves to its new home in Tseung Kwan O. In a video posted on YouTube yesterday, the department expressed gratitude for the staff dedication and commitment, as well as public support and encouragement, that have made Immigration Tower in Wan Chai a place full of memories. "The Immigration Department has been based on 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, since 1990 and it has been 34 years," it said. "Despite the change in location, our commitment to providing high-quality services for citizens remains unwavering," Deputy director Tai Chi-yuen, a veteran of 36 years, said the move was necessary due to the department's growing size and the need for more space. "While the address has changed, our core mission to serve the public remains unchanged," he said. Immigration Tower, a 48-story complex, has witnessed developments in Wan Chai over the years, with a recent notable addition being the Exhibition Centre station to the area's infrastructure. Tai said the department was proud in being able to contribute to the vibrant atmosphere of the district. Staff from various sections, including the foreign domestic helpers section and the travel documents (issue) section, expressed excitement over the move. They anticipate the larger space and improved facilities will allow them to serve more effectively. An officer from the foreign domestic helpers section, Cheung, said the section gets many people coming in for visas and that more staffers would be deployed to assist them. "There is limited space at the office so I'm looking forward to moving to the new headquarters to serve more effectively," he said. Kong, from the travel documents (issue) section, said the summer holiday is usually the peak period for collections of new passports and officers need to stay at the entrance of the section's office to direct people. "I hope the new headquarters could offer more space and more self-service machines," she said. Clerical officer Cheung Wai-ling, who has been ensuring the quality of passports for 36 years, said her role is important in guaranteeing the documents' integrity . Chief immigration assistant So, who has been raising the national and SAR flags at the Wan Chai headquarters daily for 23 years, said the ceremony will continue at the new location, symbolizing the department's unwavering commitment to its duties and public service. https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/4/263470/Immigration-Tower-marks-end-of-an-era-with-TKO-beginning (ICE HONG KONG)

Fonte notizia: The Standard