In line with the arrangements announced by the Government yesterday (February 27) to implement targeted measures to reduce social contact and infection control measures and gradually resume more public services from March 2 in an orderly manner, the Planning Department (PlanD) announced today (February 28) that starting from next Monday (March 2), its public services will gradually resume normal operation.
 
     The counter services of the Planning Enquiry Counters (PECs) on 17th floor of North Point Government Offices (NPGO) and 14th floor of Sha Tin Government Offices will resume as normal, including enquiry services on general planning information and inspection of documents required under the Town Planning Ordinance.
 
     Meanwhile, to achieve social distancing and prevent crowds, the PECs will restrict the number of visitors at any one time. Members of the public are encouraged to make enquiries through the telephone hotline (2231 5000) or email (enquire@pland.gov.hk), and visit the PlanD's website (www.pland.gov.hk) for general planning information.
 
     District Planning Offices of the PlanD will resume fieldwork, including posting of site notices for planning applications.
 
     For enquiries, please call the hotline 2231 5000 during office hours or visit the PlanD's website.

     To align with the implementation of targeted measures to reduce social contact and infection control measures and gradually resume more public services from March 2 (Monday) in an orderly manner as announced by the Government, the Fire Services Department (FSD) announced today (February 28) that its fire protection services will be gradually resumed from March 2. The services include applications for various licences/licence renewals, applications for dangerous goods vehicle inspections, fire service installations, acceptance inspections of new buildings and compliance inspections of ventilating systems, processing of building plans as well as handling of matters relating to building fire safety improvement works.

     The Shroff Office and Receipt and Dispatch Counter of the Licensing and Certification Command Headquarters (located on 5/F, Fire Services Headquarters Building) and the Receipt and Dispatch Counters of the Fire Safety Command Headquarters (located on 7/F) and other fire protection units will continually provide services from 10am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 4pm from Monday to Friday.

     To reduce social contact, members of the public are encouraged to settle payments electronically as much as practicable. For further details, please refer to the payment methods contained in the payment notice.

     In addition, to prevent the spread of the virus more effectively, the Fire and Ambulance Services Education Centre cum Museum has been temporarily closed since January 29 and all public education programmes of the FSD have also been cancelled until further notice. The FSD has informed those who are affected and will continue to assess the latest situation. Further announcements will be made when necessary. For enquiries, please call 2197 3699 (fire safety public education) or 2197 3600 (ambulance service public education) during office hours.

     For complaints regarding fire hazards or dangerous goods, please call the FSD Complaint Hotline 2723 8787.

     To align with the implementation of targeted measures to achieve social distancing and infection control measures as well as the gradual resumption of more public services in an orderly manner as announced by the Government yesterday (February 27), a spokesman for the Marine Department (MD) said today (February 28) that, with the exception of surveying services to be conducted outside Hong Kong, all services of the department will resume starting from March 2.
      
     To prevent large numbers of people gathering, the MD will continue to provide mercantile marine services through prior booking of appointments. As for the seafarers’ examination and certification services, the MD will contact the candidates whose examination dates have been affected to notify them about the updated examination dates. Suitable adjustments will also be made to the examination arrangements in accordance with the infection control measures implemented.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Secretariat announced today (February 28) that normal operation of the Secretariat will be resumed gradually next Monday (March 2). The Secretariat will make flexible working arrangements according to the operational needs of respective divisions.

     In view of the latest situation of COVID-19 outbreak, starting from March 2, the Secretariat will implement the following infection control measures and special arrangements in order to minimise the risks of the spread of disease in the community:

(a) Public Entrance 2 of the LegCo Complex will be open between 7am and 8pm from Monday to Sunday, or 30 minutes after the end of the last meeting of the day (whichever is later);

(b) Members' Entrance 2 and the Footbridge Entrance of the Complex will be open between 7am and 8pm from Monday to Friday, or 30 minutes after the end of the last meeting of the day (whichever is later);

(c) all persons entering the Complex (including Members, public officers, Members' visitors, Members' staff, Secretariat staff, contractors' staff, media representatives as well as persons who attend or observe meetings) will be subject to body temperature screening. The Secretariat may deny entry to the Complex of any persons who refuse to undergo body temperature screening or whose body temperature is higher than 37.5 degrees Celsius;

(d) a maximum of five members of the public will be admitted to observe each of the meeting of LegCo or its committees;

(e) the Public Complaints Office will resume normal operation gradually and its counter services will be provided between 10am and 4.30pm from Monday to Friday; and

(f) the Complex will be closed from 8pm each day to 7am the following day. All Complex users must leave by 8pm.

     For details of the infection control measures and special arrangements for the LegCo Secretariat, please refer to the announcement on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk/general/english/sec/corg_ser/whats_on_20200302-e.pdf). 

     The Secretariat will review the aforementioned measures and make further announcements in due course.

     The Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) today (February 28) announced that applicants for Registration Cards for People with Disabilities can continue to download the application forms from the LWB's website (www.lwb.gov.hk/en/servicedesk/forms). Duly completed application forms with the required documents can be submitted via the same LWB website by e-submission, or posted to the Central Registry for Rehabilitation, Labour and Welfare Bureau, 11/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar.

     Approved Registration Cards will be sent to the applicants by post. In the whole process of the application for, processing and issuance of the Registration Cards, applicants do not need to attend any procedures at the LWB in person. This is in line with the Government's measures to reduce social contact and control infection in fighting the epidemic.

     Enquiries can be sent by email to the LWB (enquiry@lwb.gov.hk), or made by telephone on 2810 3859, 2810 3861, 2810 3879 or 3655 4777 during office hours.