The following is issued on behalf of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency:

     In light of the Government's announcement on the gradual resumption of public services, the service counters of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (WFSFAA) will resume normal service hours starting from March 2.

     The service counters of the Student Finance Office (SFO) will be open from Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 1pm and 2pm to 5.45pm. To avoid crowding in the waiting areas at any one time and to shorten queuing times, applicants for loan applications are encouraged to make prior bookings through the online system of the SFO.

     The service counters of the Working Family Allowance Office (WFAO) at Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong, and its Caring and Sharing Scheme Division at Pioneer Centre, Mong Kok, will be open from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday.
 
     Members of the public may also submit their applications by post, online or through the drop-in boxes at the SFO and the WFAO.

     For enquiries, please contact the WFSFAA through the following channels:

1. Student Finance Office: email (wg_sfo@wfsfaa.gov.hk); general hotline (2802 2345); cheque payment collection hotline (2150 6220);

2. Working Family Allowance Office: email (enquiry_wfao@wfsfaa.gov.hk); hotline (2558 3000); and

3. Caring and Sharing Scheme Division: email (careandshare@wfsfaa.gov.hk); hotline (3897 1088).

     A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said today (February 28) that the Government had reviewed the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL)'s revised entrustment cost estimate for the main construction works of the Shatin to Central Link (SCL) and considered that a downward adjustment to the estimate was necessary. The MTRCL was informed today that the revised entrustment cost estimate agreed by the Government was $81,628.3 million, representing an increase of $10,801.3 million compared with the original estimate, but a reduction of about $5,700 million compared with the estimate in 2017.

     On December 5, 2017, the MTRCL notified the Government that the entrustment cost of the main construction works of the SCL would be raised from $70,827 million to $87,328 million, with an increase of about $16,500 million over the original entrustment cost. The Highways Department (HyD), in collaboration with its monitoring and verification consultant (M&V consultant), had held numerous meetings with the MTRCL. In order to ascertain whether there were sufficient justifications for the cost estimate, the HyD had critically examined the information provided by the MTRCL, as well as the underlying assumptions and the basis of the estimate. 

     After taking into account the views of the HyD, the MTRCL confirmed with the Government on February 21, 2020, that the entrustment cost estimate for the main construction works of the SCL should be revised to $82,999.3 million. However, the Government considered the justification submitted by the MTRCL for the proposed additional project management cost (about $1,371 million) insufficient as there had been no material modifications to the scope of works, the entrustment activities and/or the entrustment programme of the entrustment agreement, and thus disagreed to any additional project management cost. The Government was disappointed that the MTRCL insisted on the inclusion of the additional project management cost in the revised cost estimate despite repeated discussions.

     For the above reason, the Government adjusted the revised entrustment cost estimate to $81,628.3 million, which was an increase of $10,801.3 million over the original entrustment cost. After taking into account the original project contingencies, expenses paid by other works projects, as well as the M&V consultancy fee and other Government expenses, an increase of the approved project estimate by about $10,063.8 million was required in order to take forward the remaining works of the SCL project. The Government considered that the revised entrustment cost estimate could serve as a basis for the funding application for the remaining works. The MTRCL should continue to manage payments to contractors, etc., in accordance with the terms of the contracts. The Government would rigorously monitor the process.

     â€‹To align with the announcement by the Government to resume services in a safe and orderly manner, the Narcotics Division announced today (February 28) that the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre (address: Roof Floor, Low Block, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong) will reopen on March 2 (Monday). The InfoCentre will be open from 10am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday and close on Sunday and public holidays.

     For enquiries, please call 2867 2831 during office hours. 

     To align with the implementation of targeted measures to reduce social contact, enhance infection control measures and gradually resume more public services from March 2 in an orderly manner as announced by the Government yesterday (February 27), the Highways Department said today (February 28) that its public services will largely be back to normal from March 2 (Monday).

     The Highways Department will implement various measures to reduce the risk of infection and the spread of the virus, which include introducing flexible working 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.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a suspected fraudulent website with the domain name http://hk.alisteronlines.com/. The website is operated by an alleged Alister Bank.
 
     The public should be aware that Alister Bank is not authorised by the Monetary Authority (MA) under the Banking Ordinance to carry on banking business or the business of taking deposits in Hong Kong, nor does it have the MA's approval to establish a local representative office.
 
     The HKMA has referred the case to the Hong Kong Police Force for further investigation. Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact any local Police Station or the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
 
     Given the global nature of the Internet, members of the public are reminded to verify the status of any organisation making use of the Internet to solicit deposits from the public. A list of authorised institutions is available on the HKMA's website (www.hkma.gov.hk). Members of the public may also check the status of any entity in Hong Kong which solicits deposits from the public with the HKMA by emailing its public enquiry service (publicenquiry@hkma.gov.hk).