Hongkong Post announced today (February 14) that, as advised by the postal administration of Poland, due to the relocation of the airmail unit in Warsaw, all mail delivery services (including Speedpost) between Poland and Hong Kong are subject to delay.
In light of the extension of special work arrangements for government employees and the latest developments of novel coronavirus infection, the Labour Department (LD) announced today (February 14) that the LD will provide limited public services between February 17 (Monday) and February 22 (Saturday). Counter services, except those provided by the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA), will remain suspended.
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 following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
As at noon today (February 14), public hospitals had reported to the Department of Health the admission of 36 patients (20 male and 16 female, aged 12 months to 93 years) in the past 24 hours who met the reporting criteria of severe respiratory disease associated with a novel infectious agent. Specimens of the patients concerned have been sent for testing. There are 114 patients under isolation currently.
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.
A man who went missing in Central District has been located.
Lam Kwok-ying, aged 51, went missing after he left a rehabilitation centre on High Street on February 12 afternoon. Staff of his centre made a report to Police on the same day.
The man returned to his centre this afternoon (February 14). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.
In line with the special work arrangements announced by the Government yesterday (February 13) to reduce social contacts and the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus in the community, the Planning Department (PlanD) announced today (February 14) that starting from next Monday (February 17), the department will continue to maintain provision of essential and basic services for the public on a limited scale until further notice.
The Planning Enquiry Counter (PEC) on 17th floor of North Point Government Offices (NPGO) will continue to make available documents required under the Town Planning Ordinance for public inspection, while other counter services will be suspended. Meanwhile, the PEC on the 14th floor of Sha Tin Government Offices will continue to be temporarily closed and no public services will be provided.
District Planning Offices of the PlanD will suspend all fieldwork, including posting of site notices for planning applications. No site notices will be posted for planning applications published during this period until further notice. Notices of planning applications will continue be published in the prescribed newspapers and posted on the Town Planning Board's (TPB) website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb). Members of the public are invited to pay attention to such notices in the newspapers and on the TPB website.
To reduce the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, members of the public are encouraged to avoid visiting the PEC. They may make enquiries through the telephone hotline (2231 5000) or email (enquire@pland.gov.hk), and can visit the PlanD's website (www.pland.gov.hk) for general planning information.
Meanwhile, the receipt and dispatch counter of the department (18/F, NPGO) will continue to maintain basic services during office hours (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).
The Town Planning Board Secretariat's Reception Counter will continue to maintain services for collection of submissions made under the Town Planning Ordinance via the drop-in box located on the 15th floor of NPGO during office hours (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday). Other counter services will continue to be temporarily suspended. Members of the public can make enquiries through the telephone hotline (2231 4810) or email (tpbpd@pland.gov.hk), and can visit the TPB's website for statutory planning information.
City Gallery will continue to be temporarily closed until further notice. All educational activities and docent services will be cancelled during the closure period.
For enquiries, please call the hotline 2231 5000 during office hours or visit the PlanD's website.