High-tech IC chips will be used in Guangzhou for people to apply for permits to Hong Kong and Macao, the Guangzhou Daily reported Monday.

The city's exit and entry administration department said it would install two IC machines in its office hall and issue IC cards later this month.

The machines will also be installed in every district exit and entry department office.

Card holders can make DIY service in applying for permits to Hong Kong and Macao. They can ask for help from police if they have any problems.

Their permits will be available 10 working days later.

Previously, applicants had to wait in long lines for the procedures which required a lot of paper work.

The card will cost 25 yuan (US$3) and will be valid for two years. First-time applicants will not be eligible for the new service.

The department had issued more than 1.1 million permits to Hong Kong and Macao since the city began to allow individual visits to the two SARs Aug. 20, last year.

The department saw 150,000 applications in June and 170,000 in July this year, putting great pressure on staff.

Numbers are expected to drop this month as the summer vacation comes to an end.

The department suggested applicants who want to visit the two SARs on National Day holidays and winter and summer vacations should apply one or two months ahead.

It said cross-district applications would be available by the end of this year, which means a resident will be able to apply for the permit in districts other than where his hukou (permanent residence permit) is based.

Source: Shenzhen Daily