Gerald Giam on Immigration (Amendment) Bill
The Bill will introduce provisions to support the New Clearance Concept (NCC) of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to further automate immigration clearance, said MP Gerald Giam. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Sep 18), he said he appreciates that ICA is at the forefront of immigration technology, but he has concerns about the rollout of the NCC. He wanted to know if the use of manual counters will no longer be an option when the NCC is fully rolled out. He pointed out that some categories of travellers frequently face difficulties in clearing immigration. For example, some elderly citizens are unable to provide usable fingerprints due to their dry skin. Those in wheelchairs may have difficulty with the iris scan. There could also be errors in the iris recognition system as irises change with age or after cataract surgery. The biometrics of young children are still developing and may change over time. Mr Giam also asked if special assistance lanes will be available for travellers with special needs. Turning to the disclosure of passenger information to the airport operator for specific uses, Mr Giam wanted to know what enhanced safeguards are in place to ensure data security, particularly if it is shared with third-party vendors or foreign governments. He also sought clarifications on the administration of immigration permits and passes.
The Bill will introduce provisions to support the New Clearance Concept (NCC) of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to further automate immigration clearance, said MP Gerald Giam. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Sep 18), he said he appreciates that ICA is at the forefront of immigration technology, but he has concerns about the rollout of the NCC. He wanted to know if the use of manual counters will no longer be an option when the NCC is fully rolled out. He pointed out that some categories of travellers frequently face difficulties in clearing immigration. For example, some elderly citizens are unable to provide usable fingerprints due to their dry skin. Those in wheelchairs may have difficulty with the iris scan. There could also be errors in the iris recognition system as irises change with age or after cataract surgery. The biometrics of young children are still developing and may change over time. Mr Giam also asked if special assistance lanes will be available for travellers with special needs. Turning to the disclosure of passenger information to the airport operator for specific uses, Mr Giam wanted to know what enhanced safeguards are in place to ensure data security, particularly if it is shared with third-party vendors or foreign governments. He also sought clarifications on the administration of immigration permits and passes.
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