The MSAR Government Public Security Police and the Immigration Department of the HKSAR Government are to implement optimization measures for the processing cases of loss of cross-border documents. Macao residents who lose entry documents used for access to Hong Kong and have no other documents for departure to Macao, he or she may proceed directly to the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan or China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, and report the loss in departure statement formalities. Macao residents who have registered for self-clearance services in Hong Kong can directly pass through the inspection system to verify their identity, and are no longer required by the Macao authorities to verify the identity of the person concerned.

Likewise, Hong Kong residents in Macao who lose their entry documents, aside from going to the Immigration Department Office Building at Travessa Um do Cais de Pac On, Taipa to report the loss and signing the 'Declaration of Loss of Document', which is required for departing Macao before the expiry date; if there is an urgent need to return to Hong Kong and there are no other documents for departure, visitors can show their valid ticket within three hours to the Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal or Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal to complete the formalities, following verification of identity.

If the special case is subject to verification of identity, the Hong Kong and Macao sides have agreed to further expedite the process, shortening processing time by 30 minutes. Currently, about 1.5 million Hong Kong residents have registered for the self-clearance service in Macao, while some 220,000 Macao residents have registered to use self-service clearance; some 60 per cent of Hong Kong and Macao residents are expected to get the permit through the inspection system to verify their identity which further shortens processing time.

The new measures will reduce the time the various departments concerned have to spend on completing the formalities of different procedures, but if cases involve criminal action, such as theft of identification document, visitors must first go to the police station to report the case.

Hong Kong and Macao residents who lose entry documents are advised to call the Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal (+853) 8798 5327, Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal (+853) 8898 1564, Immigration Department Office at Travessa Um do Cais de Pac On, Taipa (+853) 28725488, or Macau Ferry Terminal Control Point (+852) 2547 5265.