CI were not used to enter the PRC (Mainland China) or Portuguese Macau, and other means of travel documents and/or entry permits were required.

Since establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on 1 July 1997, no more CI were issued.

If they did not choose to acquire British nationality through naturalisation, they could apply for the CI as a travel document from the colonial Hong Kong Government.

To ensure Certificate of Identity will be acceptable for the purpose of international travel and for the return to HK after 30 June 1997, the British and the Chinese Government have agreed that the Certificate of Identity contain the following endorsement:[dubious – discuss] The holder of this passport has Hong Kong permanent identity card number xxxx which states that the holder has the right of abode in Hong Kong.Countries that allowed Hong Kong Certificate of Identity holders to visit without visas: After the HKSAR was established, a number of countries have ceased to accept CI's at different times.

However it is no longer possible to possess a valid CI as a travel document, because all CIs have expired by 30 June 2007.

The present Certificate is issued for the sole purpose of providing the holder with identity papers in lieu of a national passport.