From Hong Kong we use ID cards and they work *exceptionally* well
Just because something is acceptable in your native Chinese culture does not mean it would be acceptable in our native British culture.
The UK Government is NOT to be trusted with an ID Cards scheme - not least because of the all encompassing National Identity Register (NIR) that sits behind it. Every time the ID Card is used an entry is made on the NIR. Thus the state builds up a picture over time of what you do and where you go. The NIR would also have links to other governent databases so allowing civil servants access to a huge range of information about you.
Exactly how do you think I, as a private citizen, would benefit from this? If I need to identify myself (and I rarely do outside work) then there are number of different ways I can choose to do this and there is NO recording of the information.
I refuse to have an ID Card and protest most strongly that I may be denied an airside pass and employment as a result of my point of view.