The Transport Department (TD) announced today (March 23) that, after conducting an open tender invitation, Fortune Ferry Company Limited has been selected to operate the "Central – Hung Hom" and "water taxi" ferry services.
      
     In response to the public views on providing more in-harbour ferry services and the suggestion of "water taxi" in the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong's Tourism Industry and incorporating commercial elements at the Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier with a view to improving the vibrancy of the harbourfront and public enjoyment, the TD invited tenders for operation of the "Central – Hung Hom" and "water taxi" ferry routes on December 13 last year. By the close of the tender invitation on January 24 this year, two companies had submitted tenders. After thorough assessment, Fortune Ferry Company Limited was selected to operate the ferry services.
      
     The newly granted licences for the "Central – Hung Hom" and "water taxi" ferry routes, which will commence operation in the second and fourth quarters of this year respectively, will last for a period of five years. The TD will announce the operation commencement dates and service details of the above ferry routes in due course. To ensure smooth introduction of the new ferry routes, the TD will closely monitor the gearing-up activities carried out by the above-mentioned company.
      
     The "Central – Hung Hom" in-harbour ferry route will ply between the Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier and Central Pier No. 8 (Western Berth). The Hung Hom (Hung Luen Road) Public Transport Interchange and the Whampoa MTR Station are situated in the vicinity of the Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier. The ferry service will provide passengers with an alternative option, whereby they may interchange with various routes of franchised bus, green minibus or MTR services to go to different districts in Kowloon and the New Territories.
      
     For the "water taxi" ferry route, there will be five calling points along its main route, namely Kai Tak Runway Park Pier Landing No. 1 or No. 2; Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier; Tsim Sha Tsui Landing No. 2 or No. 5; Central Pier No. 8 (Western Berth), No. 9 or No. 10; and marine landing facilities at the southern waterfront of the West Kowloon Cultural District. Passengers will be able to freely hop on and hop off at any calling point. The operator will also provide short-working ferry services between individual points, the details of which will be announced when services are geared up.

     In view of the latest developments with COVID-19 and in response to the Government's announcement on the latest special work arrangements, the Legal Aid Department (LAD) announced today (March 23) that the LAD offices will provide basic necessary and limited civil and criminal legal aid application and litigation services between March 24 and 27.
 
     The Information and Application Services Unit of the Kowloon Branch Office will be closed starting from tomorrow (March 24) until further notice. Opening hours of other offices are as follows:  
 

 
     For enquiries, please contact the following offices during the above office hours:

• Information and Application Services Unit, Headquarters: 2537 7717 (for civil legal aid services)
• Information and Application Services Unit, Kowloon Branch Office: 2380 0117
• Crime Section: 2867 3139
• Civil Litigation Section 1: 2867 3123
• Civil Litigation Section 2: 2594 7884
• Costing Unit and Enforcement Unit: 2867 3152

  
     Members of the public may also contact the LAD for other enquiries through its 24-hour hotline (2537 7677), email (ladinfo@lad.gov.hk) or fax (2537 5948).

     The Census and Statistics Department announced today (March 23) the commencement of the Annual Survey of Economic Activities for the reference year of 2019. The survey aims to collect up-to-date statistical data on business performance and operating characteristics of various economic sectors for evaluating their contribution to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product. The survey results are useful to both the Government and the private sector in formulating policies and making decisions.
 
     About 20 000 establishments in various economic sectors are selected to participate in the survey. Questionnaires have been sent to selected establishments individually together with the notification letters. To assist the selected establishments in providing the required information, electronic templates of the questionnaires will also be available upon request.
 
     The statistical survey is a mandatory one conducted under Part III of the Census and Statistics Ordinance (Chapter 316). According to section 13(1) of the Ordinance, any person to whom a questionnaire relating to a statistical survey is delivered shall complete the questionnaire or cause it to be completed by other persons to the best of his/her knowledge and belief, and in the manner specified in the questionnaire, and then return the questionnaire on or before the specified date. The Ordinance also stipulates that all collected information which may enable identification of individual establishments should be kept in strict confidence. Only aggregate information, which does not reveal details of individual establishments, will be released.
 
     The Department would like to thank those establishments which had participated in previous rounds of the survey, and appeal to the management of all establishments which have been selected in the current survey round for their co-operation in the survey by returning the completed questionnaires to the Department on or before May 29, 2020.
 
     The information to be sought in the survey mainly includes type of ownership, origin of investment, number of persons engaged, compensation of employees (including wages, salaries and other employee benefits), operating expenses, business receipts, capital expenditure and other information related to the business operation of the establishments.
 
     If necessary, census officers of the Department may contact individual establishments to offer assistance in completing the questionnaires. These officers will each carry a Government/Enumerator Identity Card and a certificate for conducting the survey, which are available for inspection.
 
     Enquiries regarding the survey may be directed to the Economic Surveys Section (1) (Tel: 3903 7131, fax: 2123 1429, email: econq1@censtatd.gov.hk) or Economic Surveys Section (2) (Tel: 3903 7168, fax: 2805 6105, email: econq2@censtatd.gov.hk) of the Department.

The following is issued on behalf of the Town Planning Board:

     In line with the latest adjustment to public services in response to the latest situation of COVID-19 announced by the Government, and to reduce social contacts and the risk of spreading the disease in the community, starting from today (March 23), members of the public can place their submissions made under the Town Planning Ordinance, into the drop-in box located at the Town Planning Board Secretariat's reception counter at 15/F, North Point Government Offices during office hours (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday). Other counter services will be temporarily suspended until further notice.  Members of the public can continue to make enquiries through the telephone hotline (2231 4810) or email (tpbpd@pland.gov.hk), and can visit the TPB's website （www.info.gov.hk/tpb）for statutory planning information.

     The Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident in Kowloon Tong this morning (March 23), in which a man has died.
 
     The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident, and is now conducting an investigation to look into its cause.