In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Land Registry announced today (March 22) that the opening hours of its offices will be adjusted as follows with effect from tomorrow (March 23) until further notice to provide basic public services on a limited scale:
 
(1) between 9am and 1.30pm from Monday to Friday other than on a public holiday for the purpose of delivering instruments for registration; and
 
(2) between 9am and 12.30pm from Monday to Friday other than on a public holiday for other purposes.
 
     Customers may also deposit documents to be delivered to the Land Registry (excluding instruments to be delivered for registration) in the Drop-in Box located near the Information Counter on the Deck Floor of the High Block of Queensway Government Offices between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday other than on a public holiday.
 
     Under the special work arrangements, customers may expect longer waiting times for services. They are encouraged to conduct land searches through the Land Registry online search service (www.iris.gov.hk), use the Drop-in Box as much as possible and visit its offices only if they require services urgently. For enquiries, please call the Land Registry hotline on 3105 0000.

     In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) announced today (March 22) that it will provide essential, emergency and limited-scale basic public services.  The arrangements for affected public services of the WSD commencing tomorrow (March 23) are as follows:
 

• The Customer Enquiries Centre (CEC) in Wan Chai will continue to be open with opening hours from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Friday. The CECs in Tai Kok Tsui, Sha Tin, Tai Po and Tuen Mun will be closed;

• The Document Management Centre located on the 43rd floor of Immigration Tower, Wan Chai, will continue to receive submissions of documents, including water supply applications and plumbing proposals. Processing of these submissions will be prioritised according to their category, urgency and other factors;

• The 24-hour Customer Services Hotline (2824 5000) will handle emergency and general enquiries as normal. Enquiries on account matters will be diverted to voice mail and those of an urgent nature will be replied to as soon as possible;

• The H2OPE Centre (Water Resources Public Education Centre) will be closed;

• The "Excursion with Water Save Dave" Visiting Programme for individuals and groups will continue to be cancelled; and

• Routine meter readings will be suspended. The WSD will issue water bills with estimated water consumption to relevant customers with the billing cycles of their accounts ending during the period.

     The arrangements above will continue to be effective until further notice.

     In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Narcotics Division announced today (March 22) that the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre, which reopened earlier this month, will be temporarily closed again from tomorrow (March 23) until further notice. All activities and guided tour services will be suspended during the closure period.

The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:
 
     The Liquor Licensing Board (LLB) will meet on Tuesday (March 24) to consider five applications for the new issue, renewal and transfer of liquor licences.
 
     The applications are (not in order of discussion):
 
Hong Kong:
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LAMBDA LOUNGE in Sheung Wan
Hong Kong Police College Officers' Mess in Wong Chuk Hang
 
Kowloon:
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Magic City and The Oak in Mong Kok
 
New Territories:
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Comet Lounge Karaoke in Cheung Chau
 
     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. In response to the latest developments of COVID-19, to avoid the gathering of people in an enclosed environment and safeguard the health of all participants, public seats will not be available for all open hearings of the LLB in the interim.
 

     In view of the latest developments of COVID-19, the Drainage Services Department (DSD) announced today (March 22) that it will maintain its emergency and essential public services and provide basic and limited public services to members of the public starting tomorrow (March 23) until further notice. These services include the 24-hour DSD Drainage Hotline, the inspection of drainage records and the handling of Sewage Charges/Trade Effluent Surcharge matters. The public are advised to minimise their use of the above services unless under emergency or necessary situations and note that the handling times of the above services will be longer.
 
     Except for the 24-hour Drainage Hotline (2300 1110), all enquiry phone lines and reception services will be suspended temporarily. Inspection of drainage records, and receipt and dispatch services at the four locations below will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to noon and from 2pm to 4pm:
 

• 43/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong;
• 12/F, Kowloon Government Offices, 405 Nathan Road, Kowloon;
• 23/F, 1063 King's Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong; and
• G/F, Western Magistracy Building, 2A Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong.

 
     Drop-in boxes will be available at the above four locations and at the gate of Shatin Sewage Treatment Works outside the opening hours to receive documents.
 
     DSD facilities will also be temporarily closed for public visits and other educational purposes until further notice.