A Government spokesman said today (August 21) that consent was given to resume the building works of the topside private development project at Ho Man Tin Station (the Project).

     The spokesman said that since the reading recorded in a settlement monitoring checkpoint installed at the subway connecting Chung Hau Street, Fat Kwong Street and Ho Man Tin Station exceeded the pre-set trigger level, the piling works of the Project were suspended on September 19, 2019. The Government announced the situation on September 20, 2019, and the Buildings Department (BD) and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) respectively confirmed the structural safety of the relevant railway facilities and safe operation of the railway.

     The registered building professional appointed for the said building works subsequently submitted to the BD an incident report and a proposal of mitigation measures to alleviate the effects of the said building works on the structural safety of the nearby railway facilities. The registered building professional then requested resumption of the suspended works.

     The BD has confirmed the structural safety of the railway facilities concerned. The MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) has been consulted and confirmed that the resumption of works will not affect the structural safety of the railway facilities and safe operation of the railway. The EMSD, which regulates and monitors the safety of railway operation according to the Mass Transit Railway Ordinance (Cap. 556) and its subsidiary regulations, has also confirmed the safe operation of the railway. Regarding the resumption of works, the EMSD has also confirmed that the MTRCL has put in place stringent monitoring measures to ensure the safety of railway operation.

     Having considered the above advice, the request for resumption of works was accepted today and the suspended building works will be resumed in phases starting on August 28. The registered contractor of the Project will resume the works outside the area affected by the ground settlement. For building works within the area affected by the ground settlement (i.e. the area near the affected subway), the proposed grouting works as mitigation measures are required to be completed first and an assessment of the grouting works upon their completion is required to be submitted to the BD. The registered contractor could only commence the remaining works near the subway after having obtained the BD's satisfaction with regard to the effectiveness of the grouting works.

     Upon comprehensive and detailed engineering analyses with results indicating an estimated extent of settlement within 71 millimetres, the registered structural engineer of the Project has confirmed that the structural safety of the subway would not be affected by such an extent of settlement. In respect of the geotechnical engineering and public road facilities issues, the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Highways Department have respectively accepted the analyses and estimation of the predicted settlement by the registered structural engineer. As the proposed amendment has fulfilled the requirements of the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123), the BD has accepted the pre-set trigger level for the subway to be revised to 71mm. The MTRCL has also indicated that the revised pre-set trigger level will not affect the safety of railway operation.

     Having considered the circumstances of Ho Man Tin Station, the BD has imposed extra conditions when approving the piling and excavation amendment plans, requiring implementation of a series of measures to enhance site supervision and the safety of works when carrying out the remaining works.

     The BD, the EMSD and the MTRCL will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure the structural safety of the railway facilities and the safe operation of the railway, the spokesman said.

     In view of the latest epidemic situation, the Fire Services Department (FSD) announced today (August 21) that its fire protection services, including applications for various licences/license renewals, applications for dangerous goods vehicle inspections, fire service installations acceptance inspections of new buildings, compliance inspections of ventilating systems, processing of building plans and handling of matters relating to building fire safety improvement works, etc, will gradually resume the provision of basic public services from August 24.

     The Shroff Office and Receipt and Dispatch Counter of the Licensing and Certification Command Headquarters (located on 5/F, Fire Services Headquarters Building) and the Receipt and Dispatch Counters of the Fire Safety Command Headquarters (located on 7/F, Fire Services Headquarters Building) and other fire protection units will also provide basic services from 10am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Members of the public may call 2733 1595 during office hours for enquiries. In order to reduce social contact to contain the spread of the disease, members of the public are encouraged to settle payments electronically as much as practicable. For further details, please refer to the payment methods contained in the payment notice.

     For enquiries regarding licensing matters, including fire services certificates, dangerous goods licences, applications for dangerous goods vehicle inspections, fire service installations acceptance inspections, compliance inspections of ventilating systems and fee payments, please call the hotline 2733 7619 during office hours.

     Regarding matters relating to the collection of building plans at the Fire Safety Command Headquarters on 7/F, Fire Services Headquarters Building, please call 2170 9665 during office hours.

     For complaints regarding fire hazards or dangerous goods, please call the FSD Complaint Hotline 2723 8787.

     To align with the announcement by the Government yesterday (August 20) to gradually resume the provision of basic public services in a safe and orderly manner to meet the needs of the public and enterprises, the Companies Registry announced today (August 21) that starting from August 24, while maintaining the limited counter services provided currently, it will reopen the Public Search Centre on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 
 
      The limited opening hours of the Registry will be as follows with effect from August 24:
 
14/F Public Service Hall at Queensway Government Offices and 12/F, One Kowloon, Kowloon Bay
 
Monday to Friday
9.30am to 4pm
 
13/F Public Search Centre at Queensway Government Offices
 
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
9.30am to 4pm
          
     To achieve social distancing with a view to reducing the risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the community, the Registry appeals to people to continue to deliver documents electronically or by post. People should avoid visiting the Registry's office premises unless they require urgent service. The Registry's services for registration of documents and public search services will continue to be provided electronically through the e-Registry (www.eregistry.gov.hk), the Cyber Search Centre (www.icris.cr.gov.hk) and the website of the Registry for Trust and Company Service Providers (www.tcsp.cr.gov.hk).
 
     The waiting time for public services provided at the Registry's offices will be longer as the provision of services has been scaled down. The Registry will also take a longer time to process the documents submitted in hard copy.
 
     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.

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 WeLab Bank Limited on suspicious Apps, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the Apps concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the Apps should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     In response to the Government's announcement that government departments will gradually resume the provision of basic public services from August 24, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) announced today (August 21) that the following arrangements will be implemented starting from next Monday (August 24) to provide limited services until further notice:
 

• All Estate Management Offices (EMOs) of public housing estates will be open from 10am to 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to provide limited management services for public housing estates and handle cases with prior appointments. For enquiries and assistance outside the opening hours, residents may call the contact telephone numbers provided by the respective EMOs, and staff will render assistance as much as practicable. The EMOs' shroff offices will be closed, and residents are advised to heed the notices placed at the EMOs. They can also pay rent at more than 1 000 locations, such as convenience stores and supermarkets. They may also make payments via the Payment by Phone Service (PPS). For details, please browse the following website: www.housingauthority.gov.hk/en/public-housing/rent-related-matters/rent-payment-methods/index.html;
   
• The Public Housing Resources Management Sub-section will be closed;

• The following subsidised housing offices will be open from 10am to 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to provide limited services:

        – the White Form Secondary Market Scheme Unit (WSM) at the HA Customer Service Centre in Lok Fu; 
        – the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Secondary Market Scheme Unit (SMS) in Lung Cheung Office Block, Wong Tai Sin; and
        – the Home Assistance Loan Unit (HALU) in Lung Cheung Office Block, Wong Tai Sin;
 

• The HOS Sales Unit at the HA Customer Service Centre in Lok Fu and the Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme Sales Unit in Kwun Tong will only be open to applicants with prior appointments. For enquiries, please contact the HA Sales Hotline on 2712 8000;

• The Public Rental Housing (PRH) Application Office at the HA Customer Service Centre in Lok Fu will be open from 8am to 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to provide limited services in relation to matters involving PRH applications;

• The Clearance Housing Office and Redevelopment Sub-section offices (Pak Tin and Mei Tung) will be open from 10am to 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to provide limited services in relation to matters involving clearance housing or redevelopment;

• The Shroff Office on the Ground Floor of the HA Headquarters will be open from 10am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 4pm from Monday to Friday. All payment collection services (including premium payments by Subsidised Sale Flats Scheme owners to enable them to complete transactions of their flats), with the exception of rental payment collection, will be in operation; and
   
• Promotion activities in shopping centres under the HA will continue to be suspended.

     In addition, due to the above work arrangements, the HA may not be able to reply to public enquiries, requests or complaints in a timely manner. For enquiries, please call the HA hotline on 2712 2712.