The Rating and Valuation Department today (April 29) released online the Hong Kong Property Review 2020, which contains statistics and commentaries on the local property market in 2019 as well as forecast completions in 2020 and 2021.
 
     The full contents of the publication are available for free viewing and downloading through www.rvd.gov.hk/en/publications/index.html#statistics.
 
     Further enquiries can be directed to the department by contacting the Technical Secretary (Information) at 2150 8807.

     The Government published in the Gazette today (April 29) the Waterworks (Amendment) (Charge Concessions) Regulation 2020 and the Sewage Services (Sewage Charge) (Amendment) (Charge Concessions) Regulation 2020 to give effect to the helping measures on the waiver of the water and sewage charges for non-domestic accounts, as previously announced by the Chief Executive and the Financial Secretary. The measures aim to assist enterprises to cope with current economic challenges. About 250 000 non-domestic accounts are expected to benefit from these initiatives.

     "The measures are to waive 75 per cent of the water and sewage charges for non-domestic accounts for 12 months from December 1, 2019, to November 30, 2020, subject to a monthly cap of $20,000 and $12,500 respectively for each meter covered by a water bill. After the publication in the Gazette, the regulations will be tabled at the next sitting of the Legislative Council for negative vetting," a Government spokesman said.

     The estimated Government revenue foregone for water and sewage charges is about $660 million and $360 million respectively.

     With the joint efforts of the healthcare sector and the community since early this year, the various public health measures that aim to enhance social distancing and boundary control have begun to bear fruits. The number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong appears to have stabilised in recent days though the COVID-19 pandemic remains volatile around the globe.  The situation in the Mainland has been substantially improved, yet there is still a need to sustain the control over any secondary infections brought about by imported cases or cases with travel history from cross-boundary travel.

     With a view to continuing our safeguards against any sudden turn in the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong while allowing for adjustments of the public health measures, the Government published in the Gazette today (April 28) the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong (Amendment) (No.2) Regulation 2020 (the Amendment Regulation) which will commence at 0.00am tomorrow (April 29).

     Major amendments under the Amendment Regulation are –

(1) extending the expiry date for the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) to June 7, 2020.

(2) broadening the exemption of person or category of persons from compulsory quarantine arrangement

     Currently, under section 4(1) of Cap. 599C, the Chief Secretary for Administration (CS) may designate any person or category of persons fulfilling certain criteria for exemption from the compulsory quarantine arrangement. In light of the gradual resumption of passenger movement and economic activities, the Amendment Regulation will further empower CS to exempt persons fulfilling the following criteria from compulsory quarantine (including all persons arriving from the Mainland, Macao and Taiwan) –

(a) persons who need to enter Hong Kong in receiving or providing nursery, kindergarten, primary or secondary education at any school registered under the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279) in Hong Kong or for the safe travelling of these persons for the abovementioned purpose, including cross-boundary students and related personnel and service providers; and

(b) persons whose travelling is necessary for purposes relating to manufacturing operations, business activities or the provision of professional services in the interest of Hong Kong's economic development.

     Details on the above exemption arrangement (including how to make application for exemption to relevant departments) will be announced in due course. Exempted persons will be subject to medical surveillance under the Department of Health (DH) during their stay in Hong Kong and will be required to wear masks and check temperature daily for reporting to the DH.

(3) empowering the Director of Health to cancel quarantine order

     The Director of Health (DoH) has been empowered to, at appropriate time, cancel the quarantine orders against persons arriving from the Mainland or Macao if they can fulfill certain criteria (including producing certificate on the completion of quarantine of not less than 14 days in the Mainland or Macao) and are tested negative for COVID-19. The Government is discussing with relevant authorities on the measure. At the initial stage, the measure seeks to facilitate the joint prevention and control efforts of COVID-19 with Guangdong and Macao authorities.  Details of the arrangement, including the exact date of implementation, will be announced later.

     The Amendment Regulation also includes a consequential amendment to align the nomenclature adopted by the World Health Organization.

     The Government has been reviewing the feasibility of relevant measures and will make timely adjustments in view of the latest developments of the disease.

     The above Amendment Regulation is made in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599). Section 8 of Cap. 599 empowers the Chief Executive in Council to make public health emergency regulation for the purposes of preventing, combating or alleviating the effects of a public health emergency and protecting public health.

     The Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) announced today (April 28) that some venues will be reopened on May 6 (Wednesday).
 
     The venues to be reopened are the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, the Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery cum Heritage Trail Visitors Centre, Tai Fu Tai in San Tin, the Old House of Wong Uk Village in Sha Tin, the Fortified Structure in Ha Pak Nai and No. 10 San Wai in Wong Chuk Hang (only open on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays). The operation of all interactive exhibits and public events at the six venues will remain suspended.
 
     To prevent crowds from gathering and to foster social distancing, the AMO will adopt special measures at the six venues to be reopened. These measures will include conducting temperature checks for all visitors before entering the venues, advising visitors to wear their own masks before admission and limiting the number of visitors for each venue. Furthermore, cleaning and disinfection measures will be stepped up at these venues to minimise the risk of infection.
 
     The other four venues of the AMO (namely the Wun Yiu Exhibition at Sheung Wun Yiu Village in Tai Po, Fong Yuen Study Hall on Ma Wan, the Information Centre of Tung Chung Fort on Lantau Island and the Information Centre of Tung Lung Fort on Tung Lung Chau, Sai Kung) will continue to be temporarily closed. All educational activities and docent services will be suspended until further notice.
 
     The AMO will continue to monitor the situation closely and review the arrangements in a timely manner.
 
     For enquiries, please call the AMO on 2208 4400.

     To align with the Government's announcement that public services will resume under a phased approach, the Highways Department announced today (April 28) its public services will be back to normal from May 4 (Monday).

     The Highways Department will continue to implement various social distancing and precautionary measures, which include introducing flexible working hours and lunch hours, adjusting meeting arrangements and arranging cleansing service contractors to strengthen the cleansing work at different offices.

     For any suggestions, enquiries or complaints on the services, members of the public may continue to call the 24-hour hotline 2926 4111 or call 1823.  Public may also contact Highways Department by email or fax. Details are as follows:

     Email addresses :
     enquiry@hyd.gov.hk (for enquiries)
     complaint@hyd.gov.hk (for complaints)

     Fax numbers :
     2714 5216 (for enquiries)
     2187 2243 (for complaints)