A new immigration clearance channel using facial recognition technology will be in use at the airport from Tuesday.

Hong Kong residents aged 11 or above using the airport's self-service biometric system upon departure with travel documents such as the SAR passport or home return permit, along with non-Chinese Hong Kong residents using their mainland travel permit, are eligible to perform automated arrival clearance at "Face Easy" e-Channels, provided that they arrive at the airport with the same document.

The Immigration Department said eligible residents only need to face the cameras, and arrival immigration clearance will be completed upon successful verification of identity via facial recognition technology.

Throughout the entire process, there will be no need to present any documents or the contactless e-Channel encrypted QR code.

Authorities said they hope to expand the new service at all e-Channel counters next year, estimating to benefit 8 million people each year.

An assistant immigration director, Or Chung-yuk, said the new service only takes seven seconds for each person, one second faster compared with the current e-Channel, and he hopes travellers will welcome it.

"Many residents, most of the time, will be carrying luggage or have their travel document keeping in their pockets when they go through the immigration. I believe this service will offer a big help to them when they enter Hong Kong," Or said.