The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (July 24) said that an Amenities Assistant I has preliminarily tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

     The Amenities Assistant I concerned, stationed at New Territories West Tree Team's Tsuen Wan Depot (Tsuen Wan Depot) at Jockey Club Tak Wah Park, is responsible for tree management works of Tsuen Wan District and Kwai Tsing District. The depot office he works in is not open to the public. He last performed duties on July 17. He felt unwell earlier and sought medical treatment at a clinic, and was notified this morning that he had preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19. He will be admitted to hospital and treated under isolation. He is now in stable condition.

     The Assistant concerned has no recent travel history. He has been wearing surgical masks when performing duties. His body temperature was normal when undergoing temperature screening during work.    

     The LCSD will closely co-operate with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) on its epidemiological investigations. Co-workers of the Assistant concerned will be arranged to undergo COVID-19 testing. Thorough cleaning and sterilisation will be arranged at areas including the workplace and all public facilities according to guidelines provided by the CHP. The Tsuen Wan Depot is now closed until further notice for thorough cleaning and sterilisation based on public health considerations.

     The LCSD is highly concerned about the COVID-19 epidemic and will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP. Staff are reminded to pay attention to personal hygiene and to stay vigilant. They should seek medical advice immediately if feeling unwell.

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

     In response to Government's announcement that special work arrangements for government employees will be extended until August 2, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) announced today (July 24) that the following arrangements will be implemented until August 2 (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 4pm 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. EMOs' shroff offices will be closed. Residents are advised to pay heed to 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 as well as 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 open from 10am to 1pm on July 27 (Monday) and July 29 (Wednesday) to receive applications for the Letter of Nomination under the WSM and 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 July 27 (Monday) and July 29 (Wednesday). 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 until further notice. We will individually inform all concerned applicants;
   
• The Clearance Housing office and Redevelopment Sub-section offices (Pak Tin & Mei Tung) as well as the Public Housing Resources Management Sub-section will also be closedï¼›and
   
• The Shroff Office on the Ground Floor of the HA Headquarters will be open from 10am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 4pm 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.

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

     In line with the extension of the special work arrangement announced by the Government yesterday (July 23), the Government Records Service (GRS) today (July 24) announced that during the period between July 27 and August 2, the Search Room of the Public Records Office (PRO) will only open on Wednesday (July 29) for users who have made a reservation for holdings through the online catalogue. The quota is seven users, which will be allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. Public services to be provided will be limited to:
 
1. Loan and circulation service for reserved holdings; and
2. Self-service reproduction of holdings.
 
     The above services will be suspended for those who have not made an online reservation for holdings. Meanwhile, users should wear surgical masks at all times when they are entering or are present in the Hong Kong Public Records Building, and comply with the infection control measures implemented by the GRS including temperature checks and use of hand sanitiser arrangements.
 
     The Exhibition Hall in the Hong Kong Public Records Building will also be closed. Visits and public education programmes will continue to be suspended until further notice.
 
     The above measures will be implemented until August 2 and will be reviewed. Members of the public may visit the GRS website (www.grs.gov.hk) and PRO Facebook (www.facebook.com/grs.publicrecordsoffice) for updates. For enquiries, please email proinfo@grs.gov.hk.

     In light of the announcement by the Government yesterday (July 23) that the special work arrangements for government employees will be extended until August 2, the Rating and Valuation Department announced today (July 24) that from July 27 to July 31, the opening hours of its enquiry counters will be adjusted as follows to continue providing essential counter services to members of the public.

Opening hours of enquiry counters:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday (8.30am to 2pm)

     To achieve social distancing, the department appeals to the public to minimise visiting the enquiry counters in person unless they require services of the department urgently. Members of the public should use the department's 24-hour electronic services (www.rvd.gov.hk) to submit forms or obtain information as far as possible. They may also contact the department by email (enquiries@rvd.gov.hk), by fax (2152 0138) or by phone (2152 0111/2152 2152). Due to the special work arrangements, the waiting/response time may be longer than usual.

     This morning (July 24), the Immigration Department (ImmD) learned that a male Senior Immigration Officer stationed in the Certificate of Entitlement Section was notified of having tested positive for COVID-19.

     The officer concerned is mainly responsible for providing support services at the ninth floor of Immigration Tower in Wan Chai. His office is not open to the public. He last performed duties on July 22. His wife was confirmed as having COVID-19 in the evening of July 22. He was admitted to hospital on July 23 and was subsequently notified of the positive result early this morning (July 24). His workplace has been thoroughly cleaned and fully sterilised, including all public facilities. His office has been temporarily closed.

     The officer concerned has no recent travel history. His body temperature was normal before commencing duty and he followed the relevant disease prevention measures at work. Currently, the Centre for Protection (CHP) is trying to find out the cause of his infection and whether he has been in close contact with any other people.

     During the situation of COVID-19 infection, the department has been strictly implementing various disease prevention measures, including measuring the body temperature of and providing alcohol-based handrub to all persons before their entry into the building, providing employees with masks and other protective equipment, requiring employees to wear masks when performing duties, and stepping up the cleaning and sterilising measures for the working environment. In view of the latest situation of COVID-19 infection, the ImmD has recently carried out thorough cleansing and sterilisation at Immigration Tower.

     The department will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP and has also reminded its staff to pay attention to personal hygiene and stay vigilant. Staff have been reminded to seek medical advice and inform the department as soon as possible if feeling unwell.