e-Cert on Smart ID Card

1. How do I apply for the e-Cert to be embedded onto my smart ID card?
2. If I already applied for the Hongkong Post e-Cert, can I transfer it and have it embedded onto my smart ID card without having to apply for it again?
3. How many e-Certs can be stored in my smart ID card?
4. What should I do if I lost my smart ID card with e-Cert?
5. Where can I check the information of the e-Cert on my smart ID card if I don't have smart card reader at home?
6. How long does the e-Cert on my smart ID card last for?
7. What should I do to continue to use the e-Cert after the first year usage? Where can I pay for the subscription fees?
8. If the e-Cert on smart ID card is expired, how can I decrypt emails encrypted with my expired e-Cert?
9. How can I delete the e-cert on my smart ID card?

1. How do I apply for the e-Cert to be embedded onto my smart ID card?

You can apply for the e-Cert by completing an application form and bring along your smart ID card and apply at any of the 16 designated post offices.

2. If I already applied for the Hongkong Post e-Cert, can I transfer it and have it embedded onto my smart ID card without having to apply for it again?

e-Cert embedded on smart ID cards are being operated on a different system, therefore, you will have to complete a new application if you choose to have it embedded on your smart ID card.

3. How many e-Certs can be stored in my smart ID card?

Each smart ID card can store 1 active e-Cert with its corresponding key pair. Whenever you load a new e-Cert to your smart ID card, the existing e-Cert on the ID card will be replaced while its corresponding private key will reside on the card. Each smart ID card can store 3 standalone private keys while their corresponding e-Cert(s) are stored in the backup media such as your computer or floppy disk.

4. What should I do if I lost my smart ID card with e-Cert?

You should report loss of your smart ID card to the Immigration Department at one of its Registration of Persons Offices. You may also submit request to Hongkong Post Certification Authority to revoke your e-Cert. After your collection of a new smart ID card from the Immigration Department, you should bring along your smart ID card and apply at any of the 16 designated post offices.

5. Where can I check the information of the e-Cert on my smart ID card if I don't have smart card reader at home?

You may check the information of your e-Cert at public computers with smart card readers installed.

6. How long does the e-Cert on my smart ID card last for?

The e-Cert on smart ID card is valid for 3 years.

7. What should I do to continue to use the e-Cert after the first year usage? Where can I pay for the subscription fees?

The e-Cert on Smart ID Card is valid for 3 years. Before the first year usage expires, Hongkong Post will notify the subscriber to extend the subscription period. You may choose to pay the annual subscription fee in order to extend the usage. At present, the annual subscription fee for e-Cert is HK$50. If you do not continue your subscription after the first year usage expires, Hongkong Post will inactivate your e-Cert by suspension or revocation. According to the Electronic Transactions Ordinance, the inactivated certificates will be included in the Certificate Revocation List (CRL) published on Hongkong Post web site.

You may choose to retain the inactivated e-Cert on your ID card without affecting other smart ID card functions, or delete the e-Cert from your smart ID card using our e-Cert Control Manager software.

You can present payments for the annual subscription fee at one of the following channels:

1. Hongkong Post CA Web site by Credit Card
2. Any Post Offices by Cash or EPS

8. If the e-Cert on smart ID card is expired, how can I decrypt emails encrypted with my expired e-Cert?

Each smart ID card can store one valid e-Cert with its corresponding key pair and 3 archived private keys of your expired e-Cert(s). You may use the archived private keys to decrypt the emails encrypted with your expired e-Certs.

9. How can I delete the e-cert on my smart ID card?

If you delete the e-Cert on your smart ID card, the corresponding private key will also be deleted. You can do so on your own by using your smart card reader together with the e-Cert Control manager software. The e-Cert Control Manager can be downloaded from the Hogkong Post CA web site. Please note that you will not be able to recover the e-Cert and private keys deleted from your smart ID card.