The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary announced today (March 14) that in line with the re-opening of court registries and offices in a staggered and progressive manner starting from March 9, the Lands Tribunal Registry and the Magistrates' Courts Registries and offices will be re-opened on March 17 (Tuesday). 

     Because of the need to reduce the people flow, some of the business of the re-opened registries will be suspended during the initial re-opening period. As such, some services of the Lands Tribunal Registry will be suspended.

     The suspended services of all re-opened registries may gradually be resumed ahead of the cessation of the General Adjourned Period ("GAP") on March 22 after taking into account all the relevant factors, including the capacity of the registries in handling the workload and the impact on crowd control, and if the public health situation permits. In this regard, the following services of the High Court Registry will be resumed from March 16 (Monday):

(a) Filing of petition for self-bankruptcy; and

(b) Registration of enduring power of attorney and the lodging of related documents.
 
     An updated list of suspended business for all re-opened court and tribunal registries is set out in the Annex. It is also uploaded onto the Judiciary website.

     While court and tribunal registries will be generally re-opened for business, special arrangements will be made for the registries to handle filing and other business in an orderly and effective manner. Furthermore, it is anticipated that in the initial period there will be a significant number of people wishing to do filing, payment and other business at the Lands Tribunal and Magistrates Court registries/accounts offices. While the Judiciary will take measures to increase the capacity of the registries/offices as appropriate during the initial period (which may last up to March 20) and regulate the flow of people, parties and legal representatives are urged not to do filing, payment and other business in the first few days of the re-opening of these registries, unless they are really urgent and must be done in the first few days of re-opening.

     Any party or court user who needs to use any of the suspended business at the re-opened registries on the ground of urgency may apply to the relevant court in writing with justifications.

Preventive and crowd management measures
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     Having struck a careful balance between public health considerations and the orderly re-opening of registries, the Judiciary will continue to put in place appropriate preventive and crowd management measures for the health protection of all people who enter and remain in the court premises. Court users are required to have their body temperature taken and wear a surgical mask before they are allowed to enter and remain in the court premises. The Judiciary will constantly review the situation and introduce any new measures as appropriate.

     In order to manage people flow, special arrangements, including queuing and the introduction of a ticketing and triage system, will be put in place as appropriate to regulate the entry of court users into and inside the court premises. Latest detailed arrangements will be provided and uploaded onto the Judiciary website. Court users are strongly advised to check the updated information from the Judiciary website, and follow the advice of the Judiciary staff and security personnel when they attend court premises for court business.

Enquiries and information updates
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     For general enquiries, the following hotlines will be operated from Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm:
 

• 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, messages related to the Judiciary's arrangements arising from public health considerations, and advice to court users visiting the courts during the GAP, on the Judiciary website (www.judiciary.hk). Court users are advised to check the website for updated information as necessary.

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has been informed by the three flag day organisers that the regional flag-selling activities in public places scheduled to be held today (March 14) have been cancelled, a spokesman for the SWD said.
 
     The three charities are Joint Committee for the Promotion of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, Hok Yau Club and Life Education Activity Programme. They had been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories respectively from 7am to 12.30pm today.
 
     For enquiries, please contact the individual organisations. Contact information for the above three organisations is as follows:
 

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 8pm today (March 13), the CHP is investigating six additional confirmed cases of COVID-19, taking the number of cases to 138 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 137 confirmed cases and one probable case).
 
     Two of the confirmed cases today are associated with the 130th and 131st cases confirmed on March 11 and yesterday (March 12) respectively. The cases involve a 16-month-old boy (the 133rd case) and a 66-year-old male patient (the 138th case). The baby boy is the son of the patients of the 130th and 131st cases while the male patient is the father of the 130th case. Both patients have good past health. The baby boy arrived in Hong Kong with his parents from England on February 29. He stayed at his maternal grandparents' flat at iPlace on Castle Peak Road in Kwai Chung. He developed runny nose yesterday and was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) for treatment during contact tracing by CHP. His respiratory sample was tested positive for COVID-19 virus today. The 66-year-old male patient had no recent travel history and is asymptomatic. His deep throat saliva specimen was tested positive for COVID-19 virus today and has been arranged for management at PMH. Both patients are in stable condition. The male patient's wife is asymptomatic and is arranged quarantine.

     The third case involves a 67-year-old man (the 134th case) who has good past health and lives at Ng TongTsai, Lam Tsuen, Tai Po. He developed fever and cough since March 10 and attended the Accident and Emergency Department at Ruttonjee Hospital on March 11. His deep throat saliva specimen was tested positive for COVID-19 virus today. He is now under treatment at Prince of Wales Hospital and is in a stable condition. The patient had travel history during the incubation period and had been to London between February 27 and March 8. His wife who lives with him has developed sore throat and was admitted to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital for treatment. The patient departed London on flight CX250 (First class cabin) by Cathay Pacific arriving Hong Kong on March 8. Passengers who travelled in the same cabin on board the flight are urged to call the CHP hotline.
  
     The fourth case involves a 30-year-old woman (the 135th case) with good past health, who lives alone in View Villa, Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan. She developed fever since March 8 and attended the Accident and Emergency Department at Ruttonjee Hospital on the same day. Her deep throat saliva sample was tested positive for COVID-19 virus today and has been arranged for management at Queen Mary Hospital. She is now in stable condition. The patient had recent travel history and had been to Greece between February 10 and 26. She then travelled from Athens, Greece to London, the United Kingdom on February 26 and then from London to Paris, France on February 27. She stayed in Paris until March 4 when she took the flight from Paris to Istanbul in Turkey for transit and then returned Hong Kong on March 5.
 
    The fifth case involves a 61-year-old man (the 136th case) with good past health who lives alone in 18 Stanley Main Street, Southern. He developed cough and sore throat since March 7. He sent his sputum specimen for testing on COVID-19 virus through his family physician yesterday. His sputum specimen was tested positive for COVID-19 virus today and was admitted for management at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH). He is now in stable condition. The patient had travel history during the incubation period. He had been to Colorado in the United States of America between February 27 and March 9. He returned to Hong Kong from Colorado via Tokyo in Japan by flight NH811 by All Nippon Airways on March 10.

     The sixth case involves a 54-year-old woman (the 137th case) with good past health, who lives alone in Tai Hang Terrace, Chun Fai Road, Tai Hang. She developed cough since March 6 and attended the Sai Ying Pun Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic on March 12. Her deep throat saliva sample was tested positive for COVID-19 virus today and was admitted for management at PYNEH. She is now in stable condition. The patient had travelled to France and Morocco between February 13 and March 8. On March 8, she took the flight HV5760 (economy class cabin) by Transavia from Morocco to Amsterdam in Holland and then departed Amsterdam on flight KL887 (premium economy class cabin) by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines arriving Hong Kong on March 9. Passengers who travelled in the same cabin on board the two flights are urged to call the CHP hotline.

     The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. Quarantine will be arranged for close contacts while medical surveillance will be arranged for other contacts. For the progress on the contact tracing of the cases, please see the annex.
 
     A spokesman for the CHP said, "The CHP reminded members of the public that as the transmission of the COVID-19 virus has been increasing around the world, they are advised to consider delaying all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong."
 
     "Meanwhile, according to our epidemiological investigations, clusters are observed in the local community involving large meal gatherings and other gatherings. Members of the public are urged to go out less and reduce social activities such as meal gatherings or other gatherings, and maintain an appropriate social distance with other people as far as possible."
 
     The spokesman said, "The CHP strongly urges the public to maintain at all times strict personal and environmental hygiene, which is key to personal protection against infection and prevention of the spread of the disease in the community. On a personal level, members of the public should wear a surgical mask when having respiratory symptoms, taking public transport or staying in crowded places. They should also perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes.
 
     "As for household environmental hygiene, members of the public are advised to maintain drainage pipes properly, and regularly pour water into drain outlets (U-traps); cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use; after using the toilet, they should put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs."
 
     The CHP will report the cases to the World Health Organization, National Health Commission, Health Commission of Guangdong Province and the Hospital Authority.
 
     The CHP has set up a hotline (2125 1122) for public enquiries. The hotline operates from 8am to midnight daily. As at 4pm today, a total of 33 379 calls were received.
 
     Moreover, the Government has launched the website "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for announcing the latest updates on various news on the COVID-19 infection and health advice to help the public understand the latest updates.
 
     To prevent pneumonia and respiratory tract infection, members of the public should always maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. They are advised to:
 

• Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs, or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;
• Maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly (about once a week) pour about half a liter of water into each drain outlet (U-traps) to ensure environmental hygiene;
• Cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use;
• After using the toilet, put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel. If hand washing facilities are not available, or when hands are not visibly soiled, performing hand hygiene with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub is an effective alternative;
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly; and
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending class at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly.

     The Department of Health today (March 13) announced that the health quarantine arrangements on inbound travellers from overseas will be further extended and adjusted in response to the latest situations of COVID-19.
      
     Following the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's announcement today that the Red Outbound Travel Alert was issued on certain European countries (Schengen Area), including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Principality of Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Republic of Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, the DH will strengthen health quarantine measures on people arriving from these countries and demand them to undergo compulsory home quarantine.
      
     The World Health Organization (WHO) declared on March 11 that the COVID-19 outbreak can be described as a pandemic. As at 6pm today, over 50 000 confirmed cases were reported in a total of 120 countries/areas outside Mainland China. According to WHO, at least 72 countries/areas have reported locally transmitted cases. Large scale outbreaks with active community transmissions are occurring in Korea, Italy and Iran. 
 
     A spokesman for the DH said that the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has been closely monitoring the situation around the world. The global situation in particular in Europe is rapidly evolving with a continuous surge in the number of affected countries and confirmed cases. Locally transmitted cases are reported in many countries.
      
     The CHP has been reviewing and will timely adjust the health quarantine measures and their feasibility in view of the latest developments and risk in different countries. As the capacity of quarantine facilities in Hong Kong is limited at the moment, the Government has decided that the current quarantine centres need to be reserved for quarantine of close contacts of confirmed cases of COVID-19. Hence, the health quarantine arrangements on inbound travellers from overseas will be adjusted as follows:
 
1. Quarantine at quarantine centre
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     People arriving in Hong Kong who have been to the following countries/areas in the past 14 days, regardless of whether they are Hong Kong residents, will have to stay in a quarantine centre for quarantine.
 
1) Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do in Korea (also applies to non-Hong Kong residents from 0.00am on March 17)
2) Iran
3) Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions in Italy
 
2. Compulsory home quarantine
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     Starting from 0.00am tomorrow (March 14), people arriving in Hong Kong who have been to the following countries/areas in the past 14 days, regardless of whether they are Hong Kong residents, will be subject to compulsory home quarantine.
 
1) Italy (except Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions)
2) Bourgogne-Franche-Comte and Grand Est regions in France
3) North Rhine-Westphalia region in Germany
4) Hokkaido in Japan
5) La Rioja, Madrid and Pais Vasco regions in Spain
 
     Starting from 0.00am on March 17, people arriving in Hong Kong who have been to the following countries/areas in the past 14 days, regardless of whether they are Hong Kong residents, will be subject to compulsory home quarantine.
 
1) Korea (except Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do) (also applies to non-Hong Kong residents)
2) Schengen Area in Europe (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy (except Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions), Latvia, Principality of Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Republic of Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland)

Situations in other countries
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     Of note, the number of cases in the United Kingdom and Untied States has been on the rise. Imported cases from the United Kingdom, United States, India and Egypt have also been recorded in Hong Kong, indicating community transmissions in these countries. Members of the public who are currently outside Hong Kong, in particular those studying abroad in Europe or America who might now or will be on term break, are urged to come back to Hong Kong as soon as possible if they have plans to return. The Government noted that local airlines are planning to adjust their carrying capacity to address the demand of flights to Hong Kong. At the same time, these people should also pay attention to the latest situation of COVID-19 outbreak in the country where they are in as well as that in neighbouring areas, and consider avoiding non-essential travel. Upon their return to Hong Kong, they should put on a surgical mask for 14 days and stay home as far as possible.
 
     The spokesman reiterated that in view of proliferation of the disease around the world, members of the public are advised to consider avoiding all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong. If it is unavoidable to travel to countries/areas outside Hong Kong, they should put on a surgical mask and continue to do so for 14 days upon their return to Hong Kong. For the situation of various countries/areas, please refer to the information uploaded onto the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited bus captains at the North Point Ferry Pier Public Transport Interchange and colleagues of the Lands Department (LandsD) in the same district this afternoon (March 13) to express her gratitude for their tireless efforts in their respective posts to fight the disease together amid the epidemic.

     Accompanied by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, and the Commissioner for Transport, Ms Mable Chan, Mrs Lam visited the North Point Ferry Pier Public Transport Interchange. She chatted with several bus captains to learn about their work situation and thanked them for standing steadfast at their posts amid the epidemic to continue to provide indispensable public transport services for the public. She was also briefed by the Managing Director of New World First Bus and Citybus, Mr William Chung, on various measures to step up cleaning and sterilisation of the bus compartments as well as efforts by the company to procure face masks for the bus captains. In order to ease the pressure on the franchised bus companies during the epidemic, Mrs Lam said that the Government, through the establishment of the Anti-epidemic Fund, has expanded the measure to provide a six-month fuel subsidy or a one-off subsidy to the transport trades announced by the Financial Secretary last October by reimbursing for the five franchised bus companies one-third of the actual fuel or electricity cost during the 12-month period between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020.

     Mrs Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, and the Director of Lands, Mr Thomas Chan, then visited the Survey and Mapping Office of the LandsD to thank colleagues for collaborating with relevant departments and a non-governmental organisation to launch the Interactive Map Dashboard in a very short period of time to disseminate consolidated information on COVID-19, demonstrating the achievements of the use of technology and the whole-of-government approach in Hong Kong's anti-epidemic work. Since its launch in February, the Dashboard has attracted about 12 million views, and Mrs Lam also views it every day. The Dashboard was jointly developed by the Development Bureau, the LandsD, the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the Smart City Consortium. All of them have been working together amid the epidemic using their own expertise and innovativeness to enhance the level of public services.

     Mrs Lam also noted that the spatial data currently on the Dashboard can be integrated into the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure which is planned to be launched by the LandsD in the end of 2022, where quality and up-to-date spatial data are exchanged in a readily accessible manner and members of the public can download the data as raw material for innovative uses through value-added products, fostering the smart city development of Hong Kong.