Tag Archives: China

     In light of the Government’s announcement on the extended special work arrangements for government employees and the latest developments of novel coronavirus infection, the offices of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (WFSFAA) will adjust their service arrangements from February 17 and provide basic and limited services to the public until further notice.

     The service counters of the Student Finance Office (SFO) at Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices as well as Trade and Industry Tower will be open from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to receive applications for loans under student finance schemes from those who have made prior bookings through the online system of the SFO. Approved applicants for student loans who have been notified by the SFO may also collect their cheque payments at the service counter at Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices.

     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 10am to 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and 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. Due to the special work arrangements, the processing of applications may take a longer time. The WFAO will exercise discretion in handling the Working Family Allowance applications and Individual-based Work Incentive Transport Subsidy applications received after the application deadline on January 31.

     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).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority（HA）today (February 14) announced the cancellation of the HA Convention 2020 scheduled to be held from May 4 to 5, in light of the latest situation of the novel coronavirus epidemic.
      
     “Upon careful deliberation of the latest situation, the HA Convention Organising Committee has decided to cancel this year’s convention to allow frontline healthcare staff planning to join the event to focus their efforts on the fight against the disease and the provision of emergency and essential patient services,” the HA spokesperson said.
      
     The spokesperson added that social distancing is also an important public health initiative to prevent the further spread of the epidemic. read more

     To tie in with the Government’s announcement on the extension of the special work arrangements for government departments until February 23, a spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said today (February 14) that the Independent Checking Unit (ICU) under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing) will receive the building control applications related to building plan submissions under the Building Ordinance and continue to receive specified forms and supporting documents required to be submitted under the Minor Works Control System, the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme and the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme. Applicants can place their submissions in the drop-in box located at 8/F, Lung Cheung Office Block, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, from 10am to 4pm during the period from February 17 to 21 (Monday to Friday). The ICU will issue receipts/acknowledgements of the submissions in due course.
 
     For emergency reports and general enquiries, people may call 1823 or inform the ICU by email, fax or post:
 
Email: icuebt@hd.gov.hk
 
Mailing address: 8/F, Lung Cheung Office Block, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon
 
Fax: 3162 0069
     
     Furthermore, appeal hearings on termination of tenancy agreement scheduled for February 20 and 21 have been rescheduled. The Secretariat of the Appeal Panel (Housing) has informed the parties concerned separately. read more

     â€‹With regard to recent rumours that a backlog of face masks sent from overseas via air parcels has occurred at Hong Kong Customs, resulting in delayed deliveries to members of the public, Hong Kong Cu… read more

     To align with the special work arrangement announced by the Government yesterday (February 13) to reduce social contacts and the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, the Transport Department (TD) announced today (February 14) that Licensing Offices of the TD will continue to provide limited services to members of the public until further notice. Details are as follows:
 
     Licensing Offices at Admiralty, Cheung Sha Wan, Kwun Tong and Sha Tin will continue to suspend walk-in counter services, but will process licensing applications submitted by applicants with scheduled appointments, by post or online (except for the direct issue of a full Hong Kong driving licence).
           
     Applicants who have made an online appointment for renewal of a full driving licence/vehicle licence or an application for an international driving permit from February 17 to 21 can visit the Licensing Office concerned at the scheduled time. Applicants with an appointment made for the period from 9am to 10am should visit the Licensing Office concerned on the scheduled appointment day after 10am. To cater for service needs, the TD has increased the quota for online appointments for renewals of a full driving licence/vehicle licence or an application for international driving permit from February 17 to 21, and the period opened for appointment has been extended from two weeks to six weeks. The TD advised members of the public to submit applications after the TD’s resumption of full services unless there are urgent needs.
           
     Members of the public without prior bookings may submit applications by post or online, or via the drop-in boxes placed at each Licensing Office from 10am to 5pm from Monday to Friday. Those submitting an application by post or via drop-in box should put the completed application form, all necessary documents and the appropriate fee (by crossed cheque payable to either “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” or “The Government of the HKSAR”) into an envelope. Original identity documents or cash must not be sent by post or drop-in box. Members of the public should submit applications to the relevant Licensing Office in accordance with the types of licensing services currently provided by them.
           
     Under the limited service arrangements, the TD will as much as practicable accord priority to processing renewal applications for licences/permits for which the validity period has expired or is about to expire.
    
     Upon receipt of the completed application form, all necessary documents and the appropriate fee, the TD will send out the licence/permit for which application has been successful by registered mail as soon as practicable. If an application requires checking of an original identity document, or if necessary for other reasons, the TD will contact the applicant to make arrangements.
          
     For enquiries, members of the public can contact Licensing Offices at the following numbers:
 
Hong Kong Licensing Office         2804 2636
Kowloon Licensing Office             2150 7728
Kwun Tong Licensing Office         2775 6835
Sha Tin Licensing Office              2606 1468
 
     Furthermore, the TD’s driving tests (Written Test and Road Test) and services for driving test appointments will continue to be suspended. The Vehicle Examination Centres will continue to provide vehicle examination services for vehicles with an appointment from Monday to Friday.
 
     The Public Vehicles Unit, the Vehicle Records Office, the Driving Licence Records Office and the Driving Offence Points Office and the Cross Boundary Unit of the TD will continue to provide limited services under special work arrangements as implemented starting from February 10. For details, please refer to the press release (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202002/08/P2020020800543.htm) issued on February 8.
 
     The TD apologises for any inconvenience caused to members of the public as it is unable to provide full services due to the novel coronavirus. read more