Hey all,
I'm originally from the US and I came here on a 1 year student visa to study at HKU September last year. Apparently I was supposed to go get an HKID during the first 180 days I was here or something, but I truly and unfortunately didn't know, and forgot about it. Really dumb of me, I know - I thought you only had a right to get the HKID after 7 years of living here.
That 180 day period has since passed, and I just discovered that I should have an HKID. Will I face any penalties/deportation if I go to the immigration tower and get it now?
Funny thing is that during the christmas holidays I left HK and came back in, upon which they asked for an HKID for re-entry. I just showed them my passport and student visa, and they let me in. So I never thought twice about it and just thought they thought I was a Hongkonger (I look asian).
Sorry - I know it's really careless of me. But really, in my 8 months here I've never been asked for it for anything. Every registration took my passport just fine. I thought only HK citizens had HKIDs. The whole concept of having an "identification card" on me or face penalties is quite foreign to me, and really makes me quite uneasy. That doesn't excuse my ignorance, but yeah.
Will I face any penalties? Really don't wanna go to jail or be deported... ;(