In light of the extension of special work arrangements for government employees and the latest developments of the COVID-19 virus, the Labour Department (LD) announced today (February 21) that the LD will provide limited public services between February 24 (Monday) and February 29 (Saturday). Counter services, except those provided by the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA), will remain suspended. The Tuen Mun Job Fair scheduled to be held in the Tuen Mun Town Hall on March 3 and 4 will be cancelled.

     The EAA will provide half-day counter services (from 9am to 1pm) from Monday to Friday for receiving applications for licences for employment agencies.

     Two Occupational Health Clinics and Occupational Medicine Units under the department will remain closed. Those who have made service appointments will be individually informed of the alternative arrangements.

     The LD will review the situation in due course and announce the arrangements thereafter.

     For enquiries, members of the public can call the LD's 24-hour enquiry hotline at 2717 1771 (the hotline is manned by 1823), or email the department at enquiry@labour.gov.hk.

     The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (February 21) that Kowloon Inland Lot No. 11238 at Reclamation Street and Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon, listed in the 2019-20 Land Sale Programme will be disposed of by public tender. The tender invitation for the lot will commence on February 28 and close on March 27.
      
      Kowloon Inland Lot No. 11238 has a total site area of about 252.5 square metres and is designated for non-industrial (excluding godown, hotel and petrol filling station) purposes. The minimum gross floor area is 1,363.5 sq m. The maximum gross floor area for private residential purposes that may be attained in respect of Site A and Site B as shown on the sale plan is 828.75 sq m and 1,065 sq m respectively. The maximum gross floor area for non-industrial (excluding private residential, godown, hotel and petrol filling station) purposes is computed according to the relevant special condition in the Conditions of Sale.
 
      Land sale documents including the Form of Tender, the Tender Notice, the Conditions of Sale and the sale plan of the lot will be available for downloading from the LandsD website (www.landsd.gov.hk), and the sale plan will be available for distribution and inspection by the public from February 28, when the particulars of the tender will also be gazetted. 

     Having reviewed the special work arrangement in operation since February 3, the Companies Registry announced today (February 21) that starting from February 24, it will provide limited counter services on every weekday for receiving documents delivered in hard copy and for collection of certificates for company incorporations.
 
     The limited opening hours of the Registry will be as follows with effect from February 24:
 
Queensway Government Offices – 14/F Public Service Hall and One Kowloon, Kowloon Bay
—————————————————————————————————–
Monday to Friday
9.30am – 4pm
             
     To reduce the risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the community, the Registry again appeals to all its customers to avoid visiting its office premises unless they require urgent service. Customers can continue to deliver documents electronically or by post. The Registry's services on registration of documents and public search services will continue to be provided electronically through the "e-Registry" (www.eregistry.gov.hk), Cyber Search Centre (www.icris.cr.gov.hk) and the website of the Registry for Trust and Company Service Providers (www.tcsp.cr.gov.hk).
 
       Please check the latest announcements on the Registry's website at www.cr.gov.hk for any updates.
 
       For enquiries, please call 2867 2600 or contact the Registry at email: crenq@cr.gov.hk.

     The Government has appointed Mrs Susan Chow Woo Mo-fong, and re-appointed Mrs Laura Cha May-lung and Mr Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng as members of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) for a term of around two years from the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the HKEX in 2020 until the conclusion of the AGM of the HKEX in 2022. 
 
     Announcing the appointments today (February 21), the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, "The appointments to the Board of the HKEX represent an important safeguard in the interest of the public. Mrs Cha, Mr Hung and Mrs Chow are well-respected and experienced professionals in the financial services and business sector. They also have immense experience in public services.
 
     "Mrs Chow is a seasoned lawyer with extensive experience in corporate and risk management. Her proven track record and knowledge in the legal, financial services and business sector will strengthen HKEX's capability of discharging its public functions as stipulated in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and contribute to the HKEX's corporate risk management and strategies to promote Hong Kong as a premier capital formation centre."
 
     The Board of the HKEX comprises a maximum of six directors appointed by the Financial Secretary, a maximum of six directors elected by shareholders, and the Chief Executive of the HKEX.    
 
     The other incumbent directors appointed by the Financial Secretary are Ms Anita Fung Yuen-mei, Mr Rafael Gil-Tienda and Mr Stephen Yiu Kin-wah.
 
     "We trust that all the directors will work closely together to further the development of Hong Kong as a capital raising and risk management platform in the best interest of the public at large," Mr Chan said.
 
     The above appointments are made under the Securities and Futures Ordinance. The Ordinance, together with the HKEX's Articles of Association, empowers the Financial Secretary to appoint not more than six persons to be members of the Board of Directors of the HKEX where the Financial Secretary is satisfied that it is appropriate to do so in the interest of the investing public or in the public interest. There are currently five directors appointed by the Financial Secretary on the Board of the HKEX.

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements in Kowloon West to facilitate the Customs and Excise Service funeral with full honours for the late Customs Officer, Mr Wong Cheuk-bond, to be held on February 24 (Monday).

     Traffic control measures will be implemented on Cheong Hang Lane and Cheong Hang Road from 10.10am to 11am on February 24. Traffic along Lo Lung Hang Street must turn right to Winslow Street.

     The metered parking spaces on Lo Lung Hang Street, Winslow Street, Cheong Hang Road, and On Ching Road will be suspended from 8pm on February 23 to noon on the following day.

     People going to the funeral by vehicles should alight at Winslow Street or Lo Lung Hang Street and proceed to the Universal Funeral Parlour.

     Only the cortege can park on Cheong Hang Road. Other vehicles with authorisation can park on the west side of Cheong Hang Road.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.