A digital certificate is an electronic file issued and digitally signed by a certification authority that vouches for the identity of the certificate holder. It provides a means of authentication for conducting online transactions.

For more information about digital certificates and certification authorities, you may refer to the Hongkong Post website:

• Frequently asked questions about public key infrastructure ( http://www.hongkongpost.gov.hk/support/faq/index.html#B1 )
• Frequently asked questions on e-Cert ( http://www.hongkongpost.gov.hk/support/faq/index.html )

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The following digital certificates are generally supported by GovHK online services:

Personal Digital Certificates

• Hongkong Post e-Cert (Personal) for Smart ID card ( http://www.hongkongpost.gov.hk/product/ecert/type/smartid/index.html )
• Hongkong Post e-Cert (Personal) ( http://www.hongkongpost.gov.hk/product/ecert/type/personal/index.html )
• Hongkong Post Bank-Cert (Personal) ( http://www.hongkongpost.gov.hk/product/ecert/type/bank_per/index.html )
• Digi-Sign Personal ID-Cert Class 1 ( http://www.dg-sign.com/eng/frame_service.htm )

Organisational Digital Certificates

• Hongkong Post e-Cert (Organisational) ( http://www.hongkongpost.gov.hk/product/ecert/type/org/index.html )
• Hongkong Post Bank-Cert (Corporate) ( http://www.hongkongpost.gov.hk/product/ecert/type/bank_corp/index.html )
• Digi-Sign Organisational ID-Cert Class 2 ( http://www.dg-sign.com/eng/frame_service.htm )
• Digi-Sign Organisational ID-Cert Class 5 ( http://www.dg-sign.com/eng/frame_service.htm )

Each GovHK online service has its own requirements for digital certificate support. Please refer to the FAQs of individual service for details.

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The Hongkong Post e-Cert (Personal) for the Smart ID Card is a personal digital certificate issued by the Hongkong Post Certification Authority. This e-Cert is embedded in your Hong Kong Smart ID Card and contains the following information:

• your name as it appears on the Hong Kong Identity Card;
• your Hong Kong Identity Card number (in encrypted form);
• your email address (optional); and
• your unique Subscriber Reference Number (SRN) assigned by Hongkong Post.

This is the only digital certificate that can be loaded onto the Hong Kong Identity Card. More information, such as application details, renewal information, user guides and other technical specifications, is available on the Hongkong Post website:

• Information on e-Cert for Smart ID Card ( http://www.hongkongpost.gov.hk/product/ecert/type/smartid/index.html )
• Frequently asked questions about e-Cert for Smart ID Card ( http://www.hongkongpost.gov.hk/support/faq/index.html#J )

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You have probably logged on Windows Vista with an administrator account.  To enhance system security, Windows Vista imposes restrictions on the administrator account and may ask for permissions before certain actions are executed.

Security warning (1):

Security warning (2):

Please log on Windows Vista with a standard user account before using the online service.  In addition, because of changes in the security features of Windows Vista, you must install Java 6 Update 10 (or later) if you need to use the e-Cert in your Smart ID card for authentication.

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You have probably logged on Windows Vista with an administrator account.  To enhance system security, Windows Vista imposes restrictions on certain actions by the administrator account and therefore the online service cannot provide the option of using a smart card reader. 

Please install Java 6 Update 10 (or later) and log on Windows Vista with a standard user account before using the online service.

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