In view of the latest local epidemic situation, the Companies Registry announced today (February 11) that it will temporarily close the Public Search Centre on 13/F at Queensway Government Offices from next Monday (February 14) until further notice in order to reduce the flow of people. Customers can continue to conduct searches through the Cyber Search Centre (www.icris.cr.gov.hk), which operates 24 hours a day. 

     The other existing arrangements for services of the Registry will remain unchanged, including provision of counter services to receive documents delivered in hard copy and to allow customers to collect certificates for company incorporation. The opening hours of the Registry's counter services will be as follows:
 
14/F Public Service Hall at Queensway Government Offices and 12/F, One Kowloon, Kowloon Bay
 
Monday to Friday
9.30am to 4pm

     Customers can also continue to use electronic services on registration of documents through the e-Registry (www.eregistry.gov.hk) and the website of the Registry for Trust and Company Service Providers (www.tcsp.cr.gov.hk).

     To reduce the flow of people and social contact in the community so as to curb the further spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Registry urges its customers to continue to deliver documents electronically or by post. Customers should avoid visiting the Registry's office premises unless they require urgent service. 

     The waiting time for public services provided at the Registry's offices will be longer given the adjusted services. The Registry will also take a longer time to process the documents submitted in hard copy form.
 
     Please check the latest announcements on the Registry's website at www.cr.gov.hk for any updates.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2867 2600 or contact the Registry by email at crenq@cr.gov.hk. 

     Hongkong Post said today (February 11) that a postman of the Tsim Sha Tsui Delivery Office (TST/DO) has tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19.

     The postman concerned was responsible for delivery work in parts of Wuhu Street, Gillies Avenue South, Station Lane, Ka Wai Chuen and Hung Hom Estate Phase 1 in Hung Hom. The TST/DO is not open to the public. The postman last performed duties today. He underwent temperature screening when attending work and his body temperature was normal. He wore a mask while working outdoors and inside the TST/DO.

     Upon notification of the case, Hongkong Post immediately arranged for the co-workers of the postman concerned to undergo COVID-19 testing and thorough cleaning and disinfection of all the facilities and mail items pursuant to the guidelines set out by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH).

     The TST/DO will be temporarily closed tomorrow (February 12). Hongkong Post has put up notices at the premises that the postman concerned had visited for delivery to notify the public of the situation. Mail delivery and iPostal Station services for the district (including Tsim Sha Tsui, Austin, Hung Hom (South) and Whampoa) will be delayed during the said period. Hongkong Post apologises for the inconvenience caused. For enquiries, members of the public may call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222.
      
     Hongkong Post will continue to implement measures for social distancing and infection control at all postal facilities to safeguard the health of staff and the public, and maintain close liaison with the CHP of the DH. Staff members are also reminded to take note of their personal hygiene and stay vigilant at all times, and are advised to seek medical advice immediately in case of feeling unwell.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited relating to a phishing email, which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.

     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or e-mails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the email concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The Government announced today (February 11) that the place-specific flight suspension mechanism for Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States of America will be extended for 14 days to March 4. The place-specific flight suspension mechanism will also be implemented for Nepal from February 12 (Hong Kong time) to March 4.

     The Government earlier invoked the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H) to implement the place-specific flight suspension mechanism from January 8 (Hong Kong time) for Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The relevant measure was to be maintained until February 18. Noting that the local epidemic situation remains severe, and there has all along been many Hong Kong residents returning from these eight places, in order to prevent imported cases from posing additional pressure on the healthcare system at this crucial juncture of curbing the local epidemic situation, the Government will extend the place-specific flight suspension mechanism for two weeks. From February 19 to March 4, all passenger flights from these eight places will be prohibited from landing in Hong Kong, and at the same time, persons who have stayed in these places for more than two hours within 14 days will be restricted from boarding passenger flights for Hong Kong, so as to stop persons from the relevant places from travelling to Hong Kong via transit.

     At the same time, noting the detection of many imported cases from Nepal, the Government will implement the place-specific flight suspension mechanism for Nepal from 0.00am on February 12 (Hong Kong time) to March 4 to prohibit all passenger flights from Nepal from landing in Hong Kong, and restrict persons who have stayed in this place for more than two hours within 14 days from boarding passenger flights for Hong Kong, so as to intercept the importation of cases.

     The Government will review in due course whether the place-specific flight suspension mechanism should be lifted or continued by taking into account the latest global and local epidemic developments.

     A Government spokesman said, "We understand that the place-specific flight suspension mechanism is an extremely stringent emergency measure, and will inevitably affect the return journeys of Hong Kong residents from these nine places. However, we must maintain the relevant measure so as to quickly quell the epidemic situation, in order to prevent imported cases from posing additional pressure on the medical system."

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will launch in late February the online virtual artwork "Auguries of Innocence" by cross-disciplinary artist-curator Wong Chi-yung, who creates a visual album in the form of a website as a response to his research on contemplative arts. The artwork allows viewers to dive into the practice of idleness, immersing their senses in music, soundscapes, virtual art and generative art in the digital realm. The visual album is complemented by a free online lecture series, "Talks in 3 Parts". The first episode is available today (February 11) at the department's Edutainment Channel.
 
     As a collaboration with a team of experts, including Wong, music composer An Tôn Thất and creative technologist Markus Lanxinger, the online contemplative visual album "Auguries of Innocence" transcends the concept of mindfulness practice and contemplative arts to present a cinematic experience, with a wide range of elements such as creative coding, music, soundscapes, virtual art and generative art. Embraced by visuals and audio, audiences will be able to seek their own pace of equanimity through the practice of idleness. The album will be launched on February 28 (Monday) at the programme website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/multi_arts/programs_1285.html.
 
     In the free online series of three lectures, "Talks in 3 Parts", Wong will share with audiences his viewpoints and perspectives behind his creation by exploring various topics including mindfulness, cross-disciplinary collaboration and creative technology. Each episode is approximately 15 minutes long and conducted in English with Chinese and English subtitles. To watch the first episode, please visit the LCSD's Edutainment Channel at www.lcsd.gov.hk/edutainment/en/performing_arts/page_646.html.
 
     In addition, a free online forum, "In Between Two Realms – The Making of Auguries of Innocence", will be held by Wong and Lanxinger on March 4 (Friday) to share their creative process. Details will be announced in the programme website later. A recorded highlight version (in English with Chinese and English subtitles) will be available at the above LCSD Edutainment Channel website on March 18 (Friday).
 
     Wong is a cross-disciplinary artist and curator. He has been promoting artistic and academic exchanges for years through collaborations with various organisations such as the Théâtre de Liège in Belgium, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Hong Kong Arts Centre. Wong was selected as one of the Art Fellows 2020 by Yale University in the United States, where he developed arts and mental health projects.
 
     For programme enquiries or more information, please call 2268 7323 or visit the programme website.