In view of the latest situation of COVID-19 and in response to the Government's announcement that limited service arrangements for government departments will be implemented to reduce social contact, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) announced today (March 22) that the Registration and Permit Office in its Kowloon Bay headquarters will be closed from tomorrow (March 23) until further notice. During the period, members of the public may put their applications, with cheques for payment, into the drop-in box located at the G/F lobby of the department's headquarters during office hours (9am to 5.15pm, Monday to Friday). Submitted applications will be processed as soon as practicable and applicants will be notified of the results by phone or post.
 
     The EMSD Gallery and the EMSD Education Path will continue to be closed until further notice.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2333 3762.

     In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Land Registry announced today (March 22) that the opening hours of its offices will be adjusted as follows with effect from tomorrow (March 23) until further notice to provide basic public services on a limited scale:
 
(1) between 9am and 1.30pm from Monday to Friday other than on a public holiday for the purpose of delivering instruments for registration; and
 
(2) between 9am and 12.30pm from Monday to Friday other than on a public holiday for other purposes.
 
     Customers may also deposit documents to be delivered to the Land Registry (excluding instruments to be delivered for registration) in the Drop-in Box located near the Information Counter on the Deck Floor of the High Block of Queensway Government Offices between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday other than on a public holiday.
 
     Under the special work arrangements, customers may expect longer waiting times for services. They are encouraged to conduct land searches through the Land Registry online search service (www.iris.gov.hk), use the Drop-in Box as much as possible and visit its offices only if they require services urgently. For enquiries, please call the Land Registry hotline on 3105 0000.

     In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) announced today (March 22) that it will provide essential, emergency and limited-scale basic public services.  The arrangements for affected public services of the WSD commencing tomorrow (March 23) are as follows:
 

• The Customer Enquiries Centre (CEC) in Wan Chai will continue to be open with opening hours from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Friday. The CECs in Tai Kok Tsui, Sha Tin, Tai Po and Tuen Mun will be closed;

• The Document Management Centre located on the 43rd floor of Immigration Tower, Wan Chai, will continue to receive submissions of documents, including water supply applications and plumbing proposals. Processing of these submissions will be prioritised according to their category, urgency and other factors;

• The 24-hour Customer Services Hotline (2824 5000) will handle emergency and general enquiries as normal. Enquiries on account matters will be diverted to voice mail and those of an urgent nature will be replied to as soon as possible;

• The H2OPE Centre (Water Resources Public Education Centre) will be closed;

• The "Excursion with Water Save Dave" Visiting Programme for individuals and groups will continue to be cancelled; and

• Routine meter readings will be suspended. The WSD will issue water bills with estimated water consumption to relevant customers with the billing cycles of their accounts ending during the period.

     The arrangements above will continue to be effective until further notice.

     In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Narcotics Division announced today (March 22) that the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre, which reopened earlier this month, will be temporarily closed again from tomorrow (March 23) until further notice. All activities and guided tour services will be suspended during the closure period.

The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:
 
     The Liquor Licensing Board (LLB) will meet on Tuesday (March 24) to consider five applications for the new issue, renewal and transfer of liquor licences.
 
     The applications are (not in order of discussion):
 
Hong Kong:
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LAMBDA LOUNGE in Sheung Wan
Hong Kong Police College Officers' Mess in Wong Chuk Hang
 
Kowloon:
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Magic City and The Oak in Mong Kok
 
New Territories:
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Comet Lounge Karaoke in Cheung Chau
 
     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. In response to the latest developments of COVID-19, to avoid the gathering of people in an enclosed environment and safeguard the health of all participants, public seats will not be available for all open hearings of the LLB in the interim.