Author Archives: hksar gov

     To align with the Government’s announcement of the resumption of public services under a phased approach, the Transport Department (TD) said today (May 22) that driving test appointment services for fresh candidates and repeaters, including the online booking service for driving test appointments and the telephone booking service for repeater early test appointments, will resume on May 25, and the driving test (Part A written test) and the taxi written test will resume on May 26.
 
     For crowd control, the TD’s Licensing Offices will continue to suspend walk-in counter services (including applications for driving tests) without scheduled appointments. Applicants for non-commercial driving tests may submit their applications using the drop-in boxes placed at the Hong Kong Licensing Office or the Kowloon Licensing Office between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays), or by post to the Hong Kong Licensing Office or the Kowloon Licensing Office. Non-fresh applicants may also submit their applications online according to the current arrangement. As for the commercial driving tests, applicants may submit their applications online or by post to the Sha Tin Licensing Office according to the current arrangement. Applicants submitting an application by post or via drop-in box should put the completed application form, all necessary documents and the appropriate fee by crossed cheque (payable to either “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” or “The Government of the HKSAR”) into an envelope. Original identity documents or cash must not be sent by post or via drop-in box.

     The online booking service and the telephone booking service for repeater early test appointments will also resume on May 25. Upon successful reservation of an repeater early test appointment, the applicant should log on the government website of “Online Booking for Driving Tests” with a valid personal digital certificate or visit the specified Licensing Office during office hours in person or through an authorised agent with all necessary documents to confirm the appointment and pay for the test form within the following two working days after the date of successful reservation.

     Following the resumption of driving test (written test Part A) and taxi written test services on May 26, all candidates affected by the suspension of the written test services have been rescheduled to take the tests on May 26 and thereafter and have been notified individually by post of their rescheduled test dates.

     To reduce the risk of the spread of the virus, infection control measures will be implemented in the written test centre of the TD, including keeping seats apart at an appropriate distance and stepping up cleaning of computers at the test centre. All candidates participating in the written test must wear surgical masks inside the test centre and throughout the test, clean their hands with alcohol-based sanitiser before entering the centre, and undergo body temperature screening arranged by the TD. If a candidate does not wear a surgical mask, refuses to undergo body temperature screening or has a body temperature higher than 37.5 degrees Celsius, the candidate will not be allowed to enter the test centre and the test will be rescheduled.

     For enquiries, members of the public can contact the offices concerned of the TD at the following numbers:
 

Hong Kong Licensing Office	2804 2636
Kowloon Licensing Office	2150 7728
Sha Tin Licensing Office	2606 1468
Driving Test Appointment Office	2771 7723

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     The Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) today (May 22) reminded the public that proposals to alter the rateable value of properties from April 1 this year must be served on the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation by May 31. Proposals served after May 31 will not be accepted.

     Proposals should be made on the specified form (R20A) and be delivered by post or in person. The public can also lodge proposals on an electronic form (e-R20A) using the Electronic Submission of Form service provided on the department’s website. Proposals sent by fax are not acceptable.

     Notwithstanding the lodging of a proposal, rates and rent payers must pay rates and government rent by the last day for payment shown on the demand notes. The RVD will inform the proposers of its decisions before December 1. Any changes in rates and government rent payable resulting from such decisions will date back to April 1 this year and any overpayment will be adjusted in subsequent demands.

     For enquiries, please call 2152 0111. read more

     The Government today (May 22) announced that the Antiquities Authority (i.e. Secretary for Development) has declared the masonry bridge of Pok Fu Lam Reservoir, the Tung Wah Coffin Home on Sandy Bay Road, and Tin Hau Temple and the adjoining buildings in Yau Ma Tei as monuments under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance. The notice of the declaration was gazetted today.
      
     Pok Fu Lam Reservoir is the first public reservoir in Hong Kong. The construction of the reservoir commenced in 1860 and water supplies began at the end of 1863. Several extensions were undertaken between 1866 and 1877. Prior to the construction of Tai Tam Reservoir in the 1880s, Pok Fu Lam Reservoir was the only reservoir providing fresh water to the Central and Western Districts.
      
     The masonry bridge is one of the oldest surviving historic structures of Pok Fu Lam Reservoir. The bridge is situated at the east end of Pok Fu Lam Reservoir and supports Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road, which runs along the northern side of the reservoir. It spans the mouth of one of the feeder streams that run off the surrounding hillsides. The bridge is built of granite and features an elegant semi-circular arch. It is neatly finished using granite copings with chamfered margins and reticulated surfaces.
      
     This bridge, together with the other four masonry bridges on Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road that were declared monuments in 2009, provide not only an indispensable linkage with the reservoir’s other waterworks facilities, but also access for maintenance and visitations.
      
     The Tung Wah Coffin Home was established in 1899, with the first group of buildings completed in 1900. It is believed that the predecessor of the Tung Wah Coffin Home was a coffin home near the slaughterhouse in Kennedy Town, which was established in 1875 with funds from the Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan. The management of the coffin home was later handed over to Tung Wah Hospital. A plot of land in Sandy Bay was granted by the Government for the rebuilding of the coffin home in 1899. The coffin home has been officially known as the Tung Wah Coffin Home since then. It is the only example of its type in Hong Kong that is still serving its original purpose as a place for the deposition of coffins and human remains. It is also a testimony to the contribution of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals to the global network of Chinese charities during the 19th and 20th centuries.
      
     Situated on Sandy Bay Road for over a century, the coffin home now consists of two halls, 72 rooms, gateways, a pavilion and gardens built in different periods. Although the coffin home was built for charitable purposes and largely adopted the principles of economical and functional design, some decorative elements can still be found in some buildings. Moreover, as the buildings were constructed and renovated in different periods, the coffin home reflects a variety of styles, ranging from traditional Chinese vernacular architecture to modern Western-style elements, and other features that are a hybrid of both.
      
     Tin Hau Temple and the adjoining buildings in Yau Ma Tei are significant in the history of Kowloon as a multi-functional place for worship, arbitration and study. The temple established by boat people and land dwellers serves as an important religious focus and marker of a collective cultural identity for the local community. It is the largest surviving Tin Hau Temple compound in Kowloon, and bears witness to the development of the physical and cultural landscape of Yau Ma Tei.  
      
     The Tin Hau Temple, which was the first building constructed within the site, replaced an earlier Tin Hau Temple probably built in 1865 by the local community. The temple was relocated to its present site in 1876 and was completed in 1878. The other four buildings adjoining the temple, i.e. Kung Sor (Communal Hall), Fook Tak Tsz (Hall of Earth God) and the two Shu Yuen (schools), were constructed subsequently in phases between 1894 and 1920. 
      
     Among the five buildings, Tin Hau Temple is the largest and most elaborately decorated structure. Fronted by an entrance porch with drum platforms to either side, the temple is a Qing vernacular two-hall, three-bay building with an open courtyard between the two halls. The drum platforms have granite columns with meticulously carved bases. Exquisite historic Shiwan ceramic figurines can be found on the main ridge of the entrance hall. 
      
     Information on the three monuments is available at the heritage conservation website of the Development Bureau (www.heritage.gov.hk).

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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary announced today (May 22) that the registries and accounts offices of the following courts and tribunals will return to normal operation from May 25 (Monday):

(a) Court of Final Appeal;
(b) High Court;
(c) Competition Tribunal;
(d) District Court;
(e) Lands Tribunal;
(f) Magistrates’ Courts
(g) Labour Tribunal;
(h) Obsence Articles Tribunal; and
(i) Coroner’s Court.

     All registry business for the above courts/tribunals will be conducted within the normal operating hours, i.e. from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm (Monday to Friday, except public holidays). These will include:

(a) search and inspection of cause books, case files, originating documents, judgments/orders etc, at the relevant registries;
(b) filing of applications for admission as a barrister or solicitor at the High Court Registry; and
(c) collection of documents deposited in the letter boxes/drawers/folders at the Master Clerks’ Office.

     For distraint cases at the District Court, applicants with more than one application should continue to apply for an appointment from the District Court Registry.

     The special ticketing and triage systems for court users will cease from May 25. Court users should go directly to the relevant registries or accounts offices for services. 

     Despite the cessation of the special ticketing and triage arrangements, the Judiciary will continue to put in place appropriate preventive measures to protect the health of all people who enter and remain in judiciary premises. These measures include requiring all people entering Judiciary premises to undergo body temperature checks and wear surgical masks. To maintain social distancing, capacity limits will remain in force for areas such as court registries and accounts offices to avoid crowding. Where appropriate, queuing and other crowd management arrangements will continue to be in place to regulate the people flow. Court users are advised to check the updated information on the Judiciary website and follow the advice of the Judiciary staff and security personnel when they attend for court business.

     For general enquiries, the following hotlines are operated from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm (Monday to Friday, except public holidays):
 

• General Information: 2869 0869
• Court of Final Appeal: 2123 0123
• High Court: 2523 2212
• Probate: 2840 1683
• District Court: 2845 5696
• Family Court: 2840 1218
• Lands Tribunal: 2771 3034
• Labour Tribunal: 2625 0020
• Small Claims Tribunal: 2877 4068
• Magistrates’ Courts: 2677 8373
• Bailiff Section: 2802 7510
• Court Language Section: 2388 1364

     The Judiciary will continue to post updated information, including Daily Cause Lists, all arrangements in relation to Judiciary business and advice to court users, on the Judiciary website (www.judiciary.hk). Court users are advised to check the website for updated information as necessary. read more

     The Government today (May 22) gazetted the Property Management Services Ordinance (Commencement) Notice 2020 (the Commencement Notice) to appoint the days on which the remaining provisions of the Property Management Services Or… read more