Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, and the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, at the media session at the Central Government Offices this afternoon (Februa… read more
In view of the special work arrangement for government departments to reduce the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus in the community, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced today (February 22) that the department will continue to provide members of the public with basic and limited-scale public services until further notice. The detailed arrangements are as follows:
(1) Counter and license application services of the EPD’s regional offices will continue to be temporarily suspended. Members of the public may place the application documents in the drop-in box located at the regional offices during office hours (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday), or submit the application online or by post. The EPD will continue to process all license applications as normal.
(2) Members of the public can place their applications for vehicle exhaust and noise emissions compliance/exemption with relevant documents in the drop-in box located at the EPD’s office at 34/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai during office hours (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday). The applicants will be informed of the collection arrangement of the approved letters.
(3) Members of the public can submit their applications and submissions under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance to the EPD’s office located at 27/F, Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai during office hours (9am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday).
(4) Members of the public can submit applications for non-road mobile machinery online, and registrations and enquiries for the “Waste Cooking Oils” Scheme by email or by post. For details, please refer to the EPD website (www.epd.gov.hk).
(5) For the Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme, members of the public may call 2872 1838 for application of an account; call 2872 1854 or 2872 1856 for chits application and billing account enquiry; or email to enquiry@epd.gov.hk for both enquiries. The telephone service is adjusted as 9am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
(6) For Waste Transfer Service Accounts, members of the public may call 2872 1704 or email to rts@epd.gov.hk for enquiries. The telephone service is adjusted as 9am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
(7) The instant call answering service of the EPD’s general customer service hotline will continue to be suspended. Members of the public can make enquiries by leaving voice messages via the hotline (2838 3111) or by email (hq-hotline@epd.gov.hk).
Details of the latest arrangements of the above services are available at the EPD website (www.epd.gov.hk).
Meanwhile, the EPD will make preparations for the gradual resumption of normal services. For instance, the EPD will gradually step up inspections and investigations to accelerate the handling of enquiries and complaints. If necessary, the EPD may also arrange virtual or face-to-face meetings with contractors, consultants and the trade.
Regarding the facilities, the EPD’s WEEE•PARK visitor centre, T•PARK visitor centre, EcoPark visitor centre and Environmental Resource Centres will continue to be temporarily closed. Visitor and education programmes at Community Green Stations (CGS) will continue to be suspended until further notice. All CGSs remain open to collect recyclables. read more
​In accordance with the extension of special work arrangements for government departments, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (February 22) that it will continue to provide emergency and essential public servi… read more
A correctional officer stopped a person in custody who was committing self-harm at Stanley Prison yesterday (February 21).
At 9.41pm yesterday, the 21-year-old male person in custody was found cutting his wrist using a ball-point pen inside the ward of the institution hospital. An officer immediately ordered him to stop the act and called for reinforcement. The person in custody was found conscious and did not need to be sent to a public hospital after receiving an examination and treatment from the institution’s medical officer. A clinical psychologist of the department will follow up on the case.
A spokesman for the Correctional Services Department said, “The department uses all possible measures to prevent persons in its custody from attempting suicide or self-harm. These measures include administrative arrangements, the improvement of institutional facilities, staff training and first aid services.”
The person in custody was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug in June 2016. read more
To align with the extension of the special work arrangements for government departments, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) announced today (February 22) the latest arrangements for its services from February 24 (Monday). The details are listed below.
The Home Affairs Enquiry Centres (HAECs) (except for the Sham Shui Po HAEC, which closed earlier for maintenance works) will be open between 10am and 5pm from Monday to Friday (between 10am and 5pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday only for the HAEC in Mui Wo). The service to administer declarations or oaths/affirmations for private use will be available.
　
The hotline (2835 1535) and service counter of the Estate Beneficiaries Support Unit will operate from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm from Monday to Friday.
The services provided by the Office of the Licensing Authority will return to normal.
The multi-purpose halls of all community halls and community centres will be reopened to organisations with approved bookings from February 25 (Tuesday). However, there will be limits on the number of participants for activities to be held in order to ensure that appropriate social distancing can be maintained among them.
　　
For enquiries, please call the HAD’s enquiry hotline at 2835 2500 between 10am and 5pm from Monday to Friday. read more