Police on Monday launched a new online platform for people to apply for permits to enter restricted areas near the border, as well as for permission for filming or holding activities on the city's streets.

Officers said the processing time for applications will be cut to as little as three days, and those given a pass can save a QR code on their mobile devices for officers to scan.

Chief inspector Chung Kit-ying said the new HK$20 million platform is both easier and quicker than having to deal with the old paper documents.

"This greatly saves the data entry time and lowers the chance of human error on the entry, because when people fill in the forms their handwriting may be hard to read," she told reporters.

"Now there's an online platform, applicants can upload all these files, it saves time as they don't have to photocopy or print them out and submit them in person."

By the end of next year, the online platform will also cover services such as certificates of no criminal conviction and sex offence records, police said.