The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Secretariat announced today (September 4) that the public services of the Secretariat will be further resumed from next Monday (September 7). The following arrangements will be implemented until October 4:

(a) the LegCo Public Complaints Office will provide counter services from 10am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays);

(b) the LegCo Archives will provide services from 10am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays), and will accept public visits by appointments; and

(c) the LegCo Library will remain closed until September 13 for stock-taking but it will continue to provide enquiry services during the period; starting from September 14, the LegCo Library will resume services from 10am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays), and will accept public visits by appointments.

     The Secretariat will continue to implement epidemic prevention measures and special arrangements, please refer to the announcement on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk/general/english/sec/corg_ser/whats_on_20200904-e.pdf).

     The Secretariat will review the aforementioned measures in accordance with the development of the epidemic and make further announcements in due course.

     The Town Planning Board announced today (September 4) that the Chief Executive in Council has referred the approved Lau Fau Shan and Tsim Bei Tsui Outline Zoning Plan (OZP), the approved Tin Shui Wai OZP and the approved Kwu Tung South OZP to the Board for amendment to reflect the latest land use proposals.

     Each OZP incorporating the respective amendments will be exhibited for public inspection under the provisions of the Town Planning Ordinance.

     The Lau Fau Shan and Tsim Bei Tsui OZP and the Tin Shui Wai OZP were last approved by the Chief Executive in Council in October 2018, and the Kwu Tung South OZP was last approved by the Chief Executive in Council in January 2018.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 4) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).     
   
Twenty-four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 15 as Fair (Grade 2).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:         

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
 
Note 1: In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced on July 13 that all beaches would be temporarily closed from July 15 until further notice.
 
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, September 4, 2020 is 104.9 (same as yesterday's index).

     In view of the latest developments of the epidemic situation and the continued need for social distancing, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (September 4) that it will implement targeted measures to reduce social contact and apply infection control measures for the provision of the following counter services from next Monday (September 7) until September 13, in addition to the emergency and essential public services provided over the past two months:
     
(a) The Receipt and Dispatch Counter services at the office of the New Buildings Divisions at 7/F, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong, will be open from 9.30am to 4pm from Monday to Friday for receiving statutory submissions and related documents and forms for new building works, and for applicants to collect processed plans and related documents by appointment;
     
(b) The Building Information Centre at the second floor of the BD Headquarters at North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, will be open between 10am and 4pm from Monday to Friday for inspection and copying services for private building records. There will be limits on the number of people to be served in order to reduce social contact;
     
(c) The Receipt Counter at the ground floor of the BD Headquarters will be open between 10am and 4pm from Monday to Friday for receipt of documents from members of the public. There will be limits on the number of people to be served in order to reduce social contact. In addition, a drop-in box and a tender/quotation box will be provided at the ground floor of the BD Headquarters from 8.30am to 5.30pm from Monday to Friday to supplement the Receipt Counter services. The department will issue receipts/acknowledgements of documents received via the drop-in boxes in due course; and
     
(d) The Contractor Registration Card Replacement Counter at the ground floor of the BD Headquarters will be open between 10am and 4pm from Monday to Friday for Registered Minor Works Contractors (Individual) to replace their registration cards. The BD will implement crowd control arrangements. It appeals to these contractors that instead of visiting the Counter, they can return their registration cards by post or via the designated drop-in box placed at the ground floor of the BD Headquarters. The BD will then send out new registration cards to them via post within three weeks. In addition, a hotline (3842 5061) has been set up for these contractors to make appointments to replace their registration cards at the Contractor Registration Card Replacement Counter.
          
     The General Enquiry Counter at the ground floor of the BD Headquarters and meeting rooms of the department (except for recruitment interviews and essential meetings such as meetings for registration of building professionals and contractors) will not be open to the public until further notice.
          
     Under the special work arrangements, the handling time of the BD's services may be longer than usual. The BD appeals to the public to minimise visiting the department's offices in person unless they genuinely require its public services urgently. The public may call 1823 to make emergency reports. For general enquiries and other reports, they may call 1823 or inform the department by email (enquiry@bd.gov.hk), online reporting (eform.one.gov.hk/form/bd0001/en), fax (2537 4992) or post (BD Headquarters, North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon). In addition, electronic information may be submitted to the BD via receipt@bd.gov.hk.