Guidance Notes on Application for the
“Registration Card for People with Disabilities”

I. INTRODUCTION

The “Registration Card for People with Disabilities” (“the Card”) is issued to persons who have been found to have suffered from a disability(ies) which is permanent in nature, or of a temporary nature. The purpose of the Card is to enable the cardholder to produce, when necessary, as a documentary proof of his/her disability status. The Card is non-transferable and non-saleable to third parties. It is NOT a privilege card or a credit card. The purpose of printing the name, sex, photograph and type(s) of disability of the cardholder on the Card is to facilitate correct identification of the cardholder and to prevent abuse of the Card by persons other than the cardholder.

Since July 2005, a new card bearing the photograph of the cardholder and an expiry date has been introduced (applicable only to cardholders whose disability is temporary in nature and/or children/juveniles below the age of 11 & 18 respectively). The Cards issued prior to this date are invalid. For renewal, please refer to the application procedure in Section IV(a) below.

II. WHO CAN APPLY

Any person who has been found to suffer from a disability, including Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Speech Impairment, Physical Disability, Autism, Mental Illness, Intellectual Disability, Visceral Disability/Chronic Illness, Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, and Specific Learning Difficulties, and the severity of the disability affects one’s major life activities, participation in economic and social activities, and/or mobility, and which takes significantly longer than normal to rehabilitate, may apply for the Card.

III. APPLICATION

Applications may be made by the persons with disabilities themselves or by their parent or legal guardian on their behalf. In the case of applying on behalf of applicants, please submit documentary evidence on the relationship with the applicant.

IV. CARD ISSUE

(a) New issue –

Applicant is required to complete and return the application form (CRR3) together with relevant documentary evidence certifying his/her disability(ies) (Note 2),
a copy of his/her document of identity and a recent colour photograph (Note 1) to the following address –

Central Registry for Rehabilitation (CRR)

Labour and Welfare Bureau

Unit 1001, 10/F, The Hub,

23 Yip Kan Street, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong

Underpaid mail items will be rejected. For proper delivery of your mail items to the CRR, please ensure your mail items bear sufficient postage with return address.

Other than returning the application documents by post to the above address, applicant can also submit the application via the Labour and Welfare Bureau’s homepage (www.lwb.gov.hk) by e-submission.

The application form can be obtained from the CRR, District Offices of the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department, District Offices of the Social Welfare Department or District Offices of the Home Affairs Department. It can also be downloaded from the Labour and Welfare Bureau’s homepage (www.lwb.gov.hk). Provision of personal data in the form is entirely voluntary. However, the CRR may not be able to process an application if any of the necessary personal data or valid disability proof is not provided.

(b) Renewal –

This is only required of cardholders whose their Cards bear an expiry date. Normally, upon first issue, a validity period of two years is allowed for cardholders suffering from non-permanent disability, counting from the date of the relevant documentary evidence is received by the CRR. A cardholder is required to submit his/her application for renewal within two months before the expiry date as shown on his/her Card, or else his/her Card will be invalidated automatically. Cardholder is required to complete and return the application form (CRR3) together with the valid documentary evidence certifying his/her disability(ies) (Note 2 and Note 3)to the address stated in Section IV(a).

If a cardholder submit his/her application for renewal more than two months before the expiry date as shown on his/her Card, in addition to the submission of the aforesaid documents, he/she is required to provide a letter stating the reasons for early renewal application and return the original copy of his/her valid Card to the CRR when being issued a new Card.

The renewal mechanism is also applicable to children/juveniles upon attaining the age of 11 and 18 respectively. The concerned child/juvenile is required to submit his/her renewal request together with a recent colour photograph (Note 1) and a copy of his/her most recent document of identity within 2 months after his/her 11th and 18th birthday respectively.

(c) Replacement –

(i) For lost cards –

A cardholder is required to complete and return the application form (CRR3) together with a letter stating the reasons for the replacement and a replacement fee of HK$58 by cheque or by cashier’s order (see Part V)..

(ii) For change of personal data/ disability type(s) printed on the Card – –

A cardholder is required to submit the request in writing and return the completed application form (CRR3) along with a copy of his/her document of identity (applicable to change of personal data)/valid documentary evidence certifying his/her disability(ies) (applicable to change of disability type(s)) (Note 2), and a fee of HK$58 by cheque or by cashier’s order. The Cardholder is required to return the original copy of his/her valid Card to the CRR when being issued a new Card.

Subject to meeting the issuing criteria as detailed above, the Card will be sent to the successful applicants by post. The CRR reserves the right to issue, cancel and reclaim the Card from applicants.

V. FEES

No fee is charged for new issue and renewal of the Card upon expiry.

For replacement of lost cards and change of personal data/ disability type(s) printed on the Card, a replacement fee of HK$58, which is subject to adjustment, has to be paid by cheque. Please send in the the cheque or cashier’s order payable to “The Government of the HKSAR”. Please do not send cash by post. If you wish to settle the payment by E-cheque, please email your E-cheque to crrecheque@lwb.gov.hk.

Cardholders applying for a replacement card or change of personal data/ disability type(s) printed on the Card may apply for waiver of the replacement charge on financial or other legitimate grounds (e.g. change of conditions in disability). Applicant is required to submit the application in writing stating the reasons for waiver with supporting documents (e.g. copy of the valid Certificate of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Recipients for Medical Waivers issued by Social Welfare Department).

VI. CANCELLATION

If a cardholder would like to cancel the Card before the expiry date as shown on his/her Card, he/she is required to submit the request in writing and return the original copy of the Card to the CRR.

VII. PERSONAL INFORMATION COLLECTION STATEMENT

TPersonal data provided will only be used for the purposes related to the application and issue of the Card. The CRR collects and compiles data on persons with disabilities who are holders of the Card in Hong Kong with a view to providing statistics on disability for planning rehabilitation services and research purposes. The personal data provided will be handled in confidence and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the “Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance”, and will not be disclosed to any other persons or organisations except in the form of summary statistics.

Upon the express agreement of a cardholder, his/her own data, including type(s) of disability, may be released to a third party or organisations authorised by the cardholder concerned.

Personal data will be deleted one year after it ceases to serve the afore-mentioned purposes.

You have a right to request access to and correction of your personal data as provided for in sections 18 and 22 and Principle 6 of Schedule 1 of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. You can obtain a copy of your personal data kept in the CRR subject to payment of a fee. Enquiries on the management of personal data, including making of access and correction to your personal data, should be addressed to:-

Central Registry for Rehabilitation (CRR)

Labour and Welfare Bureau

Unit 1001, 10/F, The Hub,

Tel.: 2180 9384

VIII. ENQUIRIES

Enquiries can be made at telephone number 2180 9384 during office hours (Note 4).

Rehabilitation Division
Labour and Welfare Bureau
March 2023

1. The photograph should have a plain background with requirements similar to that for the application of the HKSAR Passport.

2. Documentary proof on disability(ies) should be issued in the last 6 months and specify the type(s) of the applicant’s disability and duration of his/her disabling condition. Such documentary proof on disability(ies) may include –

(i) certificates issued by doctors or allied health personnel registered in Hong Kong;

(ii) copy of the “Certification of Disability Type for Registration Card for People with Disabilities (CRR4)” (as attached to the application form) issued by doctors or allied health personnel registered in Hong Kong;

(iii) copy of the “Certification of Disability Type for Registration Card for People with Disabilities (CRR4)” (as attached to the application form) issued by Officer-in-charge of special schools subvented by the Education Bureau; relevant non-governmental organisations on rehabilitation subvented by the Social Welfare Department; or Vocational Training Council Shine Skills Centres;

(iv) disability proof issued by the Transport Department for drivers with disabilities; or

(v) disability proof issued by the Social Welfare Department (applicants who are recipients of Disability Allowance or Comprehensive Social Security Assistance with 100% loss of earning capacity, etc. may make use of the “Consent Form – authorisation for data checking from Social Welfare Department (CRR/SWD1)” attached to the application form to authorise the CRR to verify the applicants’ disability-related information with the Social Welfare Department).

Examples of documentary proof on the applicants’ disability(ies) as listed above may not cover all acceptable documents for the purpose of applying for the Card. For further enquiries, applicants may contact the CRR (enquiry telephone number: 2180 9384).

3. A cardholder applying for card renewal may be exempt from submitting a fresh documentary evidence on disability if his/her disability(ies) has/have already been duly certified as permanent in nature by recognised authorities on his/her previous application for the Card.

4. The office hours of the CRR are from Monday to Friday (except public holidays) 8:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.