In accordance with the implementation of special work arrangements by the Government, the Lands Department (LandsD) today (August 7) announced that arrangements have been made for staff to work from home as far as possible to achieve social distancing more effectively with a view to reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19 in the community. All LandsD offices will continue to provide basic public services on a limited scale up to August 16. Services for receipt and delivery of documents at counters will be provided between 1pm and 5pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during this period. The telephone enquiry hotline service will be provided during office hours from Monday to Friday. The LandsD headquarters at North Point Government Offices will only open the counter on the 21st floor during the above opening hours. Other counter services, including counter enquiries, map sales counters, collection of compensation for land resumption, depositing of land boundary plans and survey record plans, and inspection of a full list of Authorised Land Surveyors, will be suspended. Online services will be maintained as normal. Members of the public may continue to make enquiries or complaints through email.

     An appeal is made to the public to minimise visiting the LandsD's offices in person unless necessary. The public can purchase most map products from Hong Kong Map Service 2.0 and can file enquiries or complaints as well as requests for services online or through other electronic means. Due to the special work arrangements, the processing of various enquiries, complaints and applications may be delayed and it may take a longer time to provide a reply. The department apologises for any inconvenience caused.

     To align with the Government's announcement that special work arrangements for government employees will be extended for one week to August 16, the Transport Department (TD) announced today (August 7) 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 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

     The Department of Health (DH) today (August 7) urged members of the public who consulted a registered Chinese medicine practitioner (CMP), Ms Ng Hoi-yan, practising at Room 1103, Sunbeam Commercial Building, 469-471 Nathan Road, Kowloon, to take note of seven cream products the practitioner prescribed as they were found to contain undeclared Western drug ingredients.
 
     Acting upon intelligence, the DH raided the above CMP's premises and seized a quantity of cream products for analysis recently. Test results from the Government Laboratory today confirmed that seven samples of the cream products seized at the above CMP's premises were found to contain a number of Part 1 poisons, namely clobetasol propionate, beclomethasone dipropionate and miconazole (please refer to the annex for details of the results and photos). An investigation is ongoing.
 
     Clobetasol propionate and beclomethasone dipropionate are corticosteroid and prescription medicine for treating inflammation. Inappropriate use of corticosteroids may cause serious side effects such as Cushing's syndrome, with symptoms including moon face and muscle atrophy. Miconazole is an antifungal drug commonly used for the treatment of fungal skin infections. It can cause side effects such as itching, irritation and an allergic reaction when used topically.
 
     The DH will set up a hotline (2961 8949) for public enquiries related to the cream products prescribed by the above CMP. The hotline will operate from 9am to 5pm from Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays) starting on August 10.
 
     According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap 138), illegal possession of Part 1 poisons and unregistered pharmaceutical products are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment. Upon completion of the investigation, the DH will consult the Department of Justice on prosecution matters. The DH will refer the case to the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong for consideration of possible disciplinary action.
 
     Members of the public who have been prescribed with medicines by the above CMP who feel unwell or are in doubt should consult health-care professionals as soon as possible. They may submit the medicines to the DH's Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office at 16/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, Landmark East, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, during office hours for disposal.

     The Water Supplies Department (WSD) today (August 7) awarded the works contract for the In-situ Reprovisioning of Sha Tin Water Treatment Works (South Works) – Water Treatment Works and Ancillary Facilities to ATAL-CW-MH Joint Venture, formed by ATAL Engineering Limited, Chun Wo Construction and Engineering Company Limited, and Ming Hing Civil Contractors Limited.
      
      The works mainly comprise the reprovisioning of water treatment facilities, including ozone facilities, flocculation and sedimentation tanks, two-stage filters, ultra-violet disinfection facilities, residual management facilities and associated installations, as well as a pumping station. The contract is worth $4,515.6 million.
      
      "This reprovisioning project aims to replace aged water treatment facilities and introduce advanced water treatment technologies including the use of ozone for removal of impurities (like manganese and iron) as well as taste and odour, the adoption of deep bed biological filtration to remove ammonia and the first application of ultra-violet disinfection in Hong Kong to inactivate micro-organisms in water for enhancing the effectiveness and capacity of water treatment. After reprovisioning, the treatment capacity of the South Works will be uprated from the current 360 000 cubic metres per day to 550 000 cu m per day to cope with the increase in water demand arising from new housing developments in part of Kowloon, Central and Western District on Hong Kong Island and Sha Tin District," a spokesman for the WSD said.
      
      The South Works of the Sha Tin Water Treatment Works, commissioned in 1964, has deteriorated after some 50 years of service and it is uneconomical to maintain its operation. The commissioning of the reprovisioning works will enhance the capability of the WSD to offer reliable water supply to the territory.

     A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (August 7) that samples from a pet cat sent to the AFCD have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

     The case involves a domestic short-haired cat that lived in Tuen Mun. When the owner was confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, the cat was sent to the AFCD for quarantine on August 4. Samples collected from the cat by the department tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. However, the cat has not shown any symptoms at present. The AFCD will continue to closely monitor the cat and conduct repeated testing.

     The spokesman reminded pet owners to adopt good hygiene practices (including hand washing before and after being around or handling animals, their food or supplies, as well as avoiding kissing them) and to maintain a clean and hygienic household environment. People who are sick should restrict contact with animals. If any changes in the health condition of pets are spotted, advice from a veterinarian should be sought as soon as possible.

     The spokesman emphasised that currently there is no evidence to show that pets are playing a role in the spread of human infection with the COVID-19 virus. Pet owners should always maintain good hygiene practices and under no circumstances should they abandon their pets.