Qatar refused boarding

[lovehunter]

Good Morning Everyone!

I am looking for advice from you guys. Recently, My mum and sister who are Hong Kong Permanent residents (Pakistani Passport holders) travelled to Pakistan but before they did somehow they both lost (couldn't find) their ID cards. They did they were supposed to do, went and renew their ID cards. Receiving the grey paper (Acknowledgement of Application for Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card)

No issues when they left Hong Kong but yesterday when they were to fly back to Hong Kong from Islamabad - they were refused boarding by Airline (Qatar) at the gate because the grey paper had passed the collection date. They went through getting the Boarding Pass, Immigration and customs. They even have an Exit Stamp on Passport.

I called "Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department" (852) 1868 - They were quite helpful and did mention that the grey paper does prove Hong Kong Permanent residency and they should be allowed boarding.

Now;
1. the airline is not so willing to reschedule the flight for free for their cockup
2. Chinese Embassy is closed until Friday and there is no assistance whatsoever until then
3. I have been on phone with the airline for quite some time and they are not really helpful. The above-mentioned assistance unit also gave us an email for Qatar Airways to send an email to verify the residency status of the passengers with some duty officer at HKIA

What is there I should do to get this sorted and how do I make the airline to reschedule for free and upgrade for the inconvenience.

Thanks!

[shri]

Cheeky - you also want an upgrade eh? Cheeky!

Any luck calling their local office (either here in HK or in Pakistan?) and asking for their GM? Not the call center, their local physical office.

[shri]

By the way - any chance at all that their passport has a stamp / sticker which says something equivalent of "All restrictions on stay removed"?

I recall getting one of those on an old passport after my PR was approved.

[bdw]

I like your ambition and already going for the upgrade before you have even sorted out the mess. But hold on a minute, the temporary grey "Acknowledgement of Application for a HK identity card" states the following:

- Please collect your identity card from 1/1/2017 to 31/1/2017 (for example)
- This form will cease to be valid for identification purposes after 31/1/2017 (for example)

So if you tried to use it for boarding purposes after it already ceased to be valid, how exactly did the airline cock up?

[Morrison]

By the way - any chance at all that their passport has a stamp / sticker which says something equivalent of "All restrictions on stay removed"?

I recall getting one of those on an old passport after my PR was approved.

It says "all conditions of stay have been cancelled "
And that can be a real bummer, because some guy might come to the conclusion your visa got cancelled and you have been kicked out of HK in the past
Happened to me in K.O.rea

[lovehunter]

Cheeky - you also want an upgrade eh? Cheeky!

Any luck calling their local office (either here in HK or in Pakistan?) and asking for their GM? Not the call center, their local physical office.

Called the Hong Kong one this morning - saying something about we're checking with the Islamabad staff and will get back. let me try to get hold of their GM.

Upgrade, why not lol...

[lovehunter]

Called the Hong Kong one this morning - saying something about we're checking with the Islamabad staff and will get back. let me try to get hold of their GM.

Upgrade, why not lol...

They do, but in their old passports which is currently in Hong Kong, I can send them the old passport if that helps.

[lovehunter]

Yes, that makes sense but given that it does prove permanent residency and therefore should be allowed boarding. (Immigration Department Officer I met this morning agrees as well)

The airline will obviously want to save the hassle if they allow them to board and denied entry to Hong kong.

[bdw]

Original Post Deleted

OK I guess your right, although I can see how an airline might not accept a piece of paper as proof of residence when it has a specific sentence printed on it that states it has ceased to be valid for ID purposes.

I'm sure this mess will get cleared up. We are not like USA here in HK . But interesting to see if they can get it for free along with an upgrade.

[Skierx]

Are Pakistani passport holders allowed to enter HK visa free?

My passport allows visa free entry and I am always asked to produce my ID card in addition to my passport when traveling and I never understood why, anytime I ask I get the usual response that its company policy.