To align with the Government's announcement that special work arrangements for government employees will be extended for one week to August 23, the Transport Department (TD) announced today (August 14) that the special work arrangements at the TD's Licensing Offices will continue until further notice. The Licensing Offices at Admiralty, Cheung Sha Wan, Kwun Tong and Sha Tin will continue to suspend walk-in counter services, but will provide counter services for applications submitted by applicants with online appointments and process applications submitted by drop-in boxes, by post, or online (except for the direct issue of a full Hong Kong driving licence).
 
     The TD appeals to members of the public in need to use the online appointment services as far as possible. Members of the public who cannot make a prior appointment may submit applications by post or online, or via the drop-in boxes placed at the Licensing Offices from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday.
 
     It is anticipated that the queuing time for counter services with an appointment will be longer under the special work arrangements. The Licensing Offices will need more time to process applications submitted by drop-in boxes, by post or online. The TD appeals for patience and understanding from members of the public who have submitted applications through the aforesaid channels or are required to queue up for counter services. To avoid unnecessary delays, the public should submit licence renewal applications three or four weeks before the expiry dates.
 
     In addition, all driving test services (including road tests, the written test (Part A) and the taxi written test) and driving test appointment services will continue to be suspended until further notice. The TD will notify the affected candidates individually of the rescheduled test dates after resumption of the driving test services.
 
     For enquiries, members of the public can contact the relevant offices at the following numbers:
 
Hong Kong Licensing Office                2804 2636
Kowloon Licensing Office                   2150 7728
Kwun Tong Licensing Office                2775 6835
Sha Tin Licensing Office                     2606 1468
Driving Test Appointment Office          2771 7723
 
 

     To align with the special work arrangements announced by the Government to stop COVID-19 from further spreading in the community, the Department of Justice announced today (August 14) that the following basic and essential services will be provided:

* Reception Counters

Prosecutions Division – 12/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central
August 17 to 21, 2020 (Monday to Friday)
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm

Civil Division – 6/F, East Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central
August 17 to 21, 2020 (Monday to Friday)
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm

* Shroff Office

Civil Division – 8/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central
August 18 and 20, 2020 (Tuesday and Thursday)
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm

     Members of the public and the legal profession can continue to serve or submit court documents and other correspondence in matters handled by the two Divisions to the respective counters and make payment to the Shroff Office. While the documents will be processed as quickly as possible, the response time may be longer than usual.

     The Department of Justice will keep the provision of various public services under review and make preparations for the gradual resumption of normal services.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 14) 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-five beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 14 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, August 14, 2020 is 105.9 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     To tie in with the Government's announcement that special work arrangements for government employees to provide emergency and essential services will be extended until August 23, a spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said today (August 14) that during the period, the Independent Checking Unit (ICU) under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing) will provide drop-in boxes to receive building control applications related to building plan submissions under the Buildings Ordinance and the specified forms and supporting documents required to be submitted under the Minor Works Control System, the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme and the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme. Applicants can place their submissions in the drop-in boxes located at 8/F, Lung Cheung Office Block, Lung Cheung Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday over the period. The ICU will issue receipts/acknowledgements of the submissions in due course.

     Members of the public, when entering Lung Cheung Office Block and offices of the ICU, shall wear masks at all times and comply with infection control measures including temperature checks and crowd control arrangements.

     For emergency reports and general enquiries, people may call 1823 or inform the ICU by email, post or fax:

Email: icuebt@hd.gov.hk
Mailing address: 8/F, Lung Cheung Office Block, Lung Cheung Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon
Fax: 3162 0069

    Furthermore, appeal hearings on the termination of tenancy agreements scheduled for August 20 will be rescheduled. The Secretariat of the Appeal Panel (Housing) will inform the parties concerned separately.