Taiwan Quick Take: Biometric passports issued

The UK will introduce its biometric passport, called the "ePassport," today, according to a statement released by the British Trade and Cultural Office (BTCO) in Taipei yesterday. The British Consulate-General in Hong Kong is the issuing authority for all passport applications made at the BTCO, the statement said. "The biometric passport is an important counter-fraud initiative. It is part of a series of new procedures and systems introduced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and UK Identity and Passport Service over the past two years to prevent identity fraud," the statement said. The BTCO said the new security features will enable bona fide travelers to confirm their identity to immigration officials more easily, and in the future will also make automatic border controls possible. There is no need to replace valid British passports before they expire because they remain acceptable for travel, the statement added.