Hong Kong will soon start rolling out its APIS program to enhance border security via a requirement for operators of international private and commercial flights to provide pre-arrival and departure manifest data to Hong Kong officials. The APIS for Hong Kong has been under development since March 2023.
A transitional period of about 12 months will be adopted to allow time for airlines and general aviation operators to connect to the Hong Kong APIS system and ensure it runs smoothly. During this transition period, the application of offenses and penalties for non-compliance with the requirements will be suspended. According to business aviation flight planning organization Ops Group, business and general aviation operators will have to start using the system in April.
“To enable Hong Kong to meet ICAO’s requirement and recommendations, as well as to facilitate the immigration department to enhance its passenger clearance and enforcement capabilities to prevent undesirables, including potential non-refoulement claimants, from boarding flights heading to Hong Kong, it is necessary to implement the API system and give legal effect to it through regulation,” the country’s Security Bureau said. “The regulation will specify the requirements [on aircraft operators] regarding the provision of the API data and the aircraft information of each traveler through the API system.”