In light of the special work arrangements for government departments, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) announced today (February 8) the latest arrangements for its services starting from February 10 (Monday). Details are as follows:
　
     The Home Affairs Enquiry Centres (HAECs) (except for the Sham Shui Po HAEC, which closed earlier for maintenance works) will be open between 11am and 3pm from Monday to Friday (between 11am and 3pm 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 (EBSU) will operate from 11am to 3pm from Monday to Friday.
 
     The waiting time for the services provided by the HAEC and the EBSU may be longer as the provision of services will be further scaled down.
 
     The Office of the Licensing Authority will continue to provide limited services. Submissions of licensing applications in connection with hotels, guesthouses and other premises as well as entertainment can be made by post or using e-submission. Application forms and submission details can be found on the webpage of the Office of the Licensing Authority at www.hadla.gov.hk. Applicants who need to collect or submit important documents in person should contact relevant staff beforehand for arrangements.
 
     All community halls and community centres, except when being used as temporary cold shelters when the cold weather warning is in force, will continue to be temporarily closed.
 
     For enquiries, please call the HAD's enquiry hotline at 2835 2500 between 11am and 3pm from Monday to Friday.

     In view of the latest developments, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (February 8) that the Hong Kong Flower Show 2020 originally scheduled to be held from March 6 to 15 at Victoria Park has been cancelled in order to reduce social contacts and the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community.

     Meanwhile, processing and acceptance of individual and block booking applications for the department's non-fee charging land recreation and sports facilities as well as block booking applications for the fee charging land recreation and sports facilities are suspended until further notice.

     Application for use of wedding venues, amphitheatres and non-fee charging leisure venues for non-designated use/sales activities is suspended until further notice.

     Furthermore, as announced earlier, various LCSD cultural and leisure facilities will continue to be temporarily closed until February 17 (Monday). Recreational, sports and cultural programmes to be held during the period will also be cancelled.

     Land sports facilities and aquatic facilities temporarily closed include all sports centres, sports grounds, grass pitches, artificial turf soccer pitches, tennis courts, squash courts, bowling greens, golf facilities, public swimming pools, beaches, Tuen Mun Recreation and Sports Centre, water sports centres and holiday camps. Cultural facilities include all museums, performance venues, public libraries and their study rooms, mobile libraries, and music centres of the Music Office.

     During the temporary closure period, URBTIX will maintain Internet and mobile app ticketing and hotline services. Public libraries will continue to provide online services such as e-Books and e-Databases. Non-fee charging land-based leisure facilities including parks, playgrounds, outdoor hard-surface pitches, skateboard grounds, skateparks, roller skating rinks and cycling grounds will maintain services.

     The LCSD will continue to monitor the situation closely and review the arrangements in a timely manner. Refund arrangements will be announced later.

     To align with the special work arrangements announced by the Government to reduce the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, the Department of Justice announced today (February 8) that the department will continue to provide the following basic and essential services next week:

* Reception Counters

Prosecutions Division – 12/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central
February 10, 2020 (Monday) to February 14, 2020 (Friday)
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm

Civil Division – 6/F, East Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central
February 10, 2020 (Monday) to February 14, 2020 (Friday)
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm

* Shroff Office

Civil Division – 8/F, West Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central
February 11, 2020 (Tuesday)
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm

     Members of the public and the legal profession can continue to serve or submit court documents and other correspondence in matters handled by the two Divisions to the respective counters and make payment to the Shroff Office. While the documents will be processed as quickly as possible, the response time may be longer than usual.

     In light of the extension of special work arrangements for government departments and the latest developments of novel coronavirus infection, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced today (February 8) that starting from next Monday (February 10), licensing services counters at Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices and the Marine Parks Office at CDW Building, 388 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, will continue to provide basic and limited public services to members of the public. Relevant services will be provided on Tuesday and Thursday, from 9.30am to noon and 2pm to 5pm instead, until further notice.

     The AFCD appeals to the public to use the above counter services only when in urgent need. Members of the public are encouraged to handle their licence or permit applications through email, post or fax. Relevant documents can also be put in the drop-in box placed at the ground floor of Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices. For detailed information and contacts, please refer to the AFCD website: www.afcd.gov.hk.

     Moreover, the provision of anti-rabies dog inoculation and dog licensing services conducted by the Animal Management Centres under the AFCD will be provided on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, from 9.30am to noon and 2pm to 4.30pm, whereas all other Anti-Rabies Dog Inoculation and Licensing Centres will be closed until further notice. For details, please visit the designated website: www.pets.gov.hk.

     Meanwhile, AFCD public facilities including the Hong Kong Wetland Park, eight Country Park Visitor/Education Centres, seven Hong Kong Geopark Visitor Centres and the Endangered Species Resources Centre will remain temporarily closed.

     For enquiries, please call the AFCD on 2708 8885.

     To tie in with the Government's announcement on the extension of the special work arrangements for government departments until February 16, a spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said today (February 8) that the Independent Checking Unit (ICU) under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing) will 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. Members of the public 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 10 to 14 (Monday to Friday). The ICU will issue receipts/acknowledgements of the submissions in due course. 

     During the period, the ICU will continue to suspend its service for receiving building control applications related to building plan submissions under the Building Ordinance. 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 the period from February 10 to 21 will be rescheduled. The Secretariat of the Appeal Panel (Housing) will inform the parties concerned separately.