HONG KONG, June 20(Xinhuanet)-- Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD) will host the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Asia Pacific Regional Seminar on Facilitation from June 21 to 24 at Two International Finance Center, according to a government press release on Monday.

A key objective of the seminar is to provide a forum for delegates to share their experiences on the implementation of Machine Readable Passports, with a view that all 188 ICAO members will have begun issuing machine readable passports by 2010, in accordance with ICAO specifications.

The seminar will focus on the practical aspects of universal implementation of Machine Readable Passports, the enhancement of Machine Readable Travel Documents with biometric identifiers and the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology at airports.

More than 150 delegates from 18 countries and regions includingthe United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia Singapore, Thailand and Republic of Korea, will participate in the seminar.

Representatives from ICAO, International Air Transport Association, Airports Council International, Asia Pacific Smart Card Association and the aviation industry will also attend. Enditem