The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, August 7, 2020 is 105.9 (up 0.1 against yesterday's  index).

     Police today (August 7) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Wan Chai.   

     Ho Chi-leung, aged 44, went missing after he left his residence on Paterson Street on June 30 morning. His family made a report to Police on August 5.

     He is about 1.86 metres tall, 80 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a black polo shirt, blue jeans, black leather boots and carrying a black backpack.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Hong Kong Island on 2860 1040 or 9886 0034 or email to rmpu-hki@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
     

  

     The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau announced today (August 7) that the Government has distributed about 28 million disposable adult masks to about 2.8 million residential addresses in Hong Kong in the past month, with each household receiving 10 masks. The masks distributed are the first batch procured by the Government under the Local Mask Production Subsidy Scheme, reflecting the Government's aim to share these masks with the public as part of Hong Kong's collective fight against the virus.
 
     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, said, "With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic across the world at the beginning of the year, there was a very significant surge in the global demand for masks and supply was very tight. As a result, the domestic mask supply market, which relied heavily on imports, suffered from widespread shortages and high prices. In response to these challenging circumstances, the Government broke the mould and took swift action to develop and implement the Scheme, which facilitates the establishment of 20 local mask production lines by providing subsidies, in order to stabilise supply and to build up stock to meet the needs of the Government and the community.
 
     "The Scheme opened for applications in March, and 20 production lines received approval as they successively secured certifications as required by the Scheme to begin mass production. Now there has been the successful distribution of masks to some 2.8 million residential addresses across Hong Kong. All this took place within merely five months. This would not have been possible without the concerted efforts of all parties. It is a true testimony of Hong Kong's adaptability and perseverance during tough times."

     Pursuant to the Scheme, the Government will procure masks from the subsidised production lines for a one-year period. As of July 31, the 20 production lines collectively delivered over 56 million masks to the Government, among which about 28 million masks were distributed to the public.
 
     Hongkong Post has completed delivering masks to all residential addresses in Hong Kong into letter boxes or by door delivery. For situations where delivery was unsuccessful, the postmen would have left notification cards. With a notification card, a pack of masks can be collected at the designated post office within 28 working days. Furthermore, the Social Welfare Department and the District Offices have assisted in arranging delivery of masks to some residential addresses currently not covered by Hongkong Post's delivery service, such as subdivided units and village houses.
 
     Anyone whose residential address has not received a pack of masks or a notification card, or has any questions about the mask distribution exercise, should call the dedicated hotline 183 6136 or email to enquiry@maskdistribution.hk starting from next Monday (August 10) at 9am.
 
     Furthermore, as of July 31, the Government disbursed a total capital subsidy of approximately $14 million to the 20 production lines. For more details about the production lines, please refer to the website of the Hong Kong Productivity Council as the Secretariat of the Scheme, at u.hkpc.org/mask.

The following press release is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:

     In response to the Government's announcement that special work arrangements for government employees will be extended until August 16, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) announced today (August 7) that the following arrangements will be implemented next week until August 16 (Sunday) to provide emergency and essential services to members of the public:
 

• All Estate Management Offices (EMOs) of public housing estates will be open from 10am to 1pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday over this period to provide essential management services for public housing estates and handle cases with prior appointments. For enquiries outside the opening hours or emergency services, 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 Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Sales Unit at the HA Customer Service Centre in Lok Fu, the Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme Sales Unit in Kwun Tong and other offices of related services will be temporarily closed;
   
• The White Form Secondary Market Scheme Unit (WSM) at the HA Customer Service Centre in Lok Fu and the HOS Secondary Market Scheme Unit (SMS) in Lung Cheung Office Block, Wong Tai Sin, will be open from 10am to 1pm on Monday and Wednesday over this period to receive applications for the Letter of Nomination under the WSM and the SMS;
   
• The Home Assistance Loan Unit (HALU) in Lung Cheung Office Block, Wong Tai Sin, will provide drop-in boxes to receive submissions in relation to matters under the Home Purchase Loan Scheme and the Home Assistance Loan Scheme. Applicants can place their submissions in the drop-in box located at the HALU from 10am to 1pm on Monday and Wednesday over this period. The HALU will issue receipts/acknowledgements of the submissions and take follow-up action in due course;
   
• All public rental housing application offices including the Lok Fu Customer Service Centre Office and the Sham Shui Po Housing Information Centre will be closed. All detailed vetting interviews will also be suspended;
   
• The Clearance Housing office and Redevelopment Sub-section offices (Pak Tin and Mei Tung) as well as the Public Housing Resources Management Sub-section will also be closed;
   
• The Shroff Office on the Ground Floor of the HA Headquarters will be open from 2pm to 4.30pm from Monday to Friday over this period to provide limited services. 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 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.

     In light of the extension of the special work arrangements for government employees for one week until August 16, the Labour Department (LD) today (August 7) announced that the LD will continue to provide emergency services and essential public services during this period.

     All counter services of the department will be suspended. Two Occupational Health Clinics and Occupational Medicine Units will be closed. Those who have made service appointments will be individually informed of the alternative arrangements. 

     The LD encourages members of the public to make use of the department's online services and information (www.labour.gov.hk) and to file enquiries and requests for service by email at enquiry@labour.gov.hk.

     Job seekers can use the Interactive Employment Service Website (www.jobs.gov.hk) for job search purposes. The LD's Telephone Employment Service Centre, all Job Centres and industry-based Recruitment Centres also provide enquiry and employment services by telephone (telephone numbers are shown at www.jobs.gov.hk/1/0/WebForm/information/en/our_service/info_jobcentres.aspx) during office hours from Monday to Friday (9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5.30pm).

     Applicants for issue of licence or renewal of licence of employment agency may submit their applications to the office of the Employment Agencies Administration by post (Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon) or email (ea-ee@labour.gov.hk).

     For information about employment rights and benefits, members of the public may browse the LD's website at www.labour.gov.hk/eng/faq/content.htm.

     Due to the special work arrangements, the processing time for various enquiries and applications may take longer than usual.

     The LD will review the situation in due course and make further announcements as appropriate.