The Lands Department (LandsD) today (February 28) announced that its offices (including District Lands Offices) will resume providing public counter services and enquiry telephone lines from March 2. The services include payment of government rent and premiums, map sales, collection of compensation for land resumption, depositing of land boundary plans and survey record plans, and inspection of a full list of Authorised Land Surveyors. Members of the public visiting LandsD's offices may have to undergo body temperature check so as to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 in the community. With the adoption of measures to prevent infection, service delivery might be affected or delayed to a certain extent. LandsD apologises for any inconvenience caused.
      
     LandsD’s online services will continue to operate. In order to reduce social contacts, the public are advised to make use of online services. Members of the public can continue to purchase most map products from Hong Kong Map Service 2.0, and can pay government rent and land premiums through online or other electronic means. Members of the public are also encouraged to file enquiries or complaints and send in requests for service by email. Since the need to contain infection and the special work arrangement would affect workflow, LandsD's processing of various enquiries, complaints and applications may be delayed and it may take a longer time to provide a reply. Service users' understanding is appreciated.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (February 28) reported a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places they visit. The case is detailed below:
 

 
     "Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Locally, the CHP's surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed relevant symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization's latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at noon today (February 28), public hospitals had reported to the Department of Health the admission of 47 patients (17 male and 30 female, aged eight months to 89 years) in the past 24 hours who met the reporting criteria of COVID-19. Appropriate tests have been arranged for the patients.
      
     There are 114 patients under isolation currently. So far, 30 patients with COVID-19 infection have been discharged upon recovery.
      
     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.

     In line with the announcement made by the Government yesterday (February 27) that it will gradually resume public services after implementing targeted measures to reduce social contact and measures for infection control, the Inland Revenue Department announced today (February 28) that it will resume its normal public services from March 2. Details of the opening hours of its various offices can be found in the department’s website at www.ird.gov.hk/eng/cu_ol.htm.

     The department wishes members of the public to note that the following service counters located in Revenue Tower will be closed from noon to 1.30pm daily for cleaning work to be carried out:

     (1) Central Enquiry Counter on 1/F;
     (2) Receipt & Despatch Counter on 1/F;
     (3) Stamp Office on 3/F; and
     (4) Business Registration Office on 4/F.
 
     In light of public health considerations, all visitors entering or remaining in the department’s premises are required to wear surgical masks. Any visitor who does not wear a surgical mask will not be served and will be asked to leave the department’s premises. Members of the public who are feeling unwell should refrain from visiting the department. The department encourages the public to contact it by telephone and use its electronic services to handle their tax affairs as much as possible. A list of such services can be found in the department's website at www.ird.gov.hk/eng/ese/index.htm.

     For enquiries, please call the department’s hotline at 1878088 during office hours.

     The Land Registry announced today (February 28) that the opening hours of all its offices will resume as normal starting March 2 (next Monday). Details are as follows:

(1) between 9am and 1.30pm from Monday to Friday, other than a public holiday, for the purpose of delivering instruments for registration; and

(2) between 9am and 12.30pm and between 2pm and 5pm from Monday to Friday, other than a public holiday, for other purposes.
 
     Customers may also deposit documents to be delivered to the Land Registry (excluding (i) instruments to be delivered for registration and (ii) quotations) in the Drop-in Box located near the Information Counter on the Deck Floor, High Block of Queensway Government Offices between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday, other than a public holiday.
 
     To reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19, customers 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.