Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Tuen Mun this morning (March 28) in which a 55-year-old man died.

     At 8.39am, a private car driven by a 47-year-old woman was travelling along Tai Fong Street towards LRT Tai Hing (South) Station, while an LRT train was travelling along Tai Fong Street towards Town Centre Station. When approaching LRT Tai Hing (South) Station, the private car reportedly went out of control and knocked down the 55-year-old man who was crossing the road. It then collided with the LRT train.

     Sustaining multiple injuries, the pedestrian was rushed to Tuen Mun Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 9.56am. The private car driver sustained waist and leg injuries. She was sent to Tuen Mun Hospital in conscious state.

     The private car driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death. She has been released on bail pending further enquiries and is required to report back to Police in late April.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories North is underway.

     Anyone who may have witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3800.

     To align with the special work arrangements announced by the Government to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 in the community, the Department of Justice announced today (March 28) that the department will continue to provide the following basic and essential services until resumption of normal services:

* Reception Counters

Prosecutions Division – 12/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central
Monday to Friday
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm

Civil Division – 6/F, East Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central
Monday to Friday
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm

* Shroff Office

Civil Division – 8/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central
Tuesday and Thursday
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm

     Members of the public and the legal profession can continue to serve or submit court documents and other correspondence in matters handled by the two Divisions to the respective counters and make payments to the Shroff Office. While the documents will be processed as quickly as possible, the response time may be longer than usual.

     The Inland Revenue Department announced today (March 28) that, in addition to the public services set out in the press release issued on March 22, limited general telephone enquiry service will be provided from March 30 through the enquiry hotline at 187 8088 from 9am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday. The service will be provided on a reduced scale and waiting times may be lengthened.

     The department will review the situation and make further announcements as necessary.

     The Labour Department (LD) today (March 28) reminded foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) that group gatherings in public places will be prohibited starting from March 29.
 
     The spokesman of the department said, "The Government announced today (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202003/28/P2020032800069.htm) that a notice will be issued in the Gazette in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) to prohibit group gatherings with more than four people in public places.  The notice will take effect at 0.00am on March 29 for 14 days.  LD reminds employers and FDHs to observe and comply with the relevant Regulation and notice, and appeals to them to avoid social activities on their rest days and stay at home for rest as far as possible.  Employers and FDHs may consider discussing rest day arrangements between themselves, including substituting another rest day, so as to avoid the health risk of participating in social activities.”  
 
     The spokesman continued, "LD appeals to employers to explain the current special circumstances when discussing rest day arrangements with their FDHs and calls for their mutual understanding in joining hands to fight the virus.  LD also reminds employers that under the Employment Ordinance, if an employer requests an FDH to work on a rest day, the employer must substitute another rest day for the FDH within 30 days after the original rest day; the employer must also notify the FDH of the arrangement within 48 hours after he/she is required to work.  An employer who compels his/her FDH to work on a rest day without the agreement of the FDH or fails to grant rest days to the FDH is in breach of the Employment Ordinance and is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $50,000." 
 
     For health advice on the prevention of pneumonia and respiratory tract infection, please visit the website of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/).  Information in Chinese, English, Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, Hindi, Sinhala, Bengali, Nepali and Urdu are available.
 
     Should FDHs and their employers have enquiries on employment matters, they may seek LD's assistance through the dedicated email account for FDH matters (fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk) and the online form on the dedicated portal (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk).

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (March 28):
     
Reporter: So you described the measures yesterday as some kind of lesser evil, for example, ordering cinemas to close for a fortnight. Could you explain a little bit on that? Can the affected business owners look forward to some kind of immediate relief measures? Thank you.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: I think the measures going to be introduced tonight and tomorrow night are necessary to strengthen social distancing as an important step in fighting against the coronavirus. They are introduced for obvious reasons, because the upsurge in (infection) cases often happened in places that we try to put them under more stringent control. In this regard, I think we need understanding and cooperation of, not only the sectors involved, but also the community at large. Inevitably, these sectors will suffer a bit. But I think it’s a balancing situation for the companies, the sectors and also the society as a whole. In certain sectors I think they are also facing this dilemma, for instance, cinemas. Cinema (operators) have taken some very positive steps to increase social distancing within cinemas. And they have also taken some precautions. But on balance, I think, if (the number of) people going to cinemas have dropped to such a low rate, taking a pause and closing down the cinemas for two weeks, might help to send a very clear signal to the community that the best way to handle the situation is to stay home and to avoid unnecessary social contacts. I am grateful to them for joining us in this community fight against the epidemic.

Reporter: Can the business owners look forward to short term relief measures?

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: The Government as a whole is thinking of stepping up relief measures. You have seen us introducing a few rounds of relief (measures) already since late last year. Both the Budget and the Anti-epidemic Fund have rolled out quite a large number of sector specific and also across the board measures. We will continue these efforts because apparently many sectors are still very much hard-hit, and they might need further help from the Government. We are seeing a prolonged battle (against the epidemic). Therefore, the Chief Executive has asked the whole team to give consideration to what more we can do to help our respective sectors. Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)