New and improved immigration services are on the way from the Chinese government. Official data show residents of Hong Kong, Macao and overseas Chinese enter and leave the country more than 200 million times a year. So far, 35 new facilitation services have been implemented for government and public services, as well as internet applications. China's National Immigration Administration says these services have benefited more than 8 million people, especially Hong Kong and Macao residents, as well as overseas Chinese who have immigration documents. 

Deputy Director of China's National Immigration Administration Yin Chengji says the National Immigration Administration uses modern information technologies such as cloud computing and big data to develop and build an identity verification platform for immigration documents.

Yin says services for purchasing air tickets, self-check-in at airports, and handling landline and mobile phones with immigration documents have been implemented nationwide. The railway station self-service ticket collection, automatic ticket checking, bank account opening, hotel accommodation registration, online appointment for medical treatment, and online purchase of insurance services have been basically put in place.

"Companies such as Tencent, JD.com, and Alipay have taken the lead in incorporating entry-exit documents into valid user registration options, and have provided corresponding electronic payment services," Yin said. 

(Cover: Press Conference of the NIA, P.R.C /NIA Photo)