In light of the latest developments of the novel coronavirus infection, the Civil Engineering and Development Department announced today (February 8) that the opening hours for the following public services will be adjusted starting next Monday (February 10) until further notice:

(1) The office hours of the Civil Engineering Library will be 10am to 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday;
(2) The office hours for applications for dumping licences and sand removal permits will be 2pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday; and
(3) The office hours of the Permit and Licensing Office of the Mines Division will be 9am to noon, Monday to Saturday.

     To align with the Government's announcement that special work arrangements for government departments will be extended to reduce the risk of novel coronavirus in the community, the Highways Department announced today (February 8) the provision of basic and limited public services will continue until further notice, including processing of excavation permit applications for excavation works on public roads and parts of the non-emergency road repair works.
 
     The Highways Department will continue to provide necessary and emergency public road repair services including daily inspections of expressways and emergency road repairs. It will also arrange for its contractors to continue to enhance the cleansing work for the handrails of footbridges, subways and escalators, as well as the buttons of lifts, under the department's purview.
 
     The Reporting Centre of the Highways Department will maintain operation to handle road repair matters. For any suggestions, enquiries or complaints on the services, members of the public may continue to call the 24-hour hotline 2926 4111 or call 1823.

     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), including those at the Student Finance Office (SFO), the Working Family Allowance Office (WFAO) and its Caring and Sharing Scheme Division, will adjust the service arrangements from February 10 to February 16. All the service counters will be temporarily closed during the above period. Appointments for counter services and interviews scheduled will also be cancelled.  
 
     Applicants for student finance schemes, the Working Family Allowance Scheme and the Individual-based Work Incentive Transport Subsidy Scheme may 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.
 
     Members of the public may contact the WFSFAA for enquiries 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 Judiciary:
      
Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
      
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
      
     The Judiciary today (February 8) announced that in view of public health consideration, all hearings of the courts/tribunals originally scheduled from February 10 (Monday) to February 16 (Sunday) will generally be adjourned to a date to be fixed. 
             
     Despite the general adjournment, the courts will continue to handle urgent and essential hearings/matters during this period. These include fresh remand cases, urgent and essential criminal matters including bail-related hearings, and other urgent applications to the courts. They will be handled in accordance with the established mechanisms, including the Duty Judge system. Parties or others concerned will continue to be separately notified by the respective courts of the details in respect of the above hearings/matters.
      
     Court/tribunal registries and offices will continue to be closed until February 16, except for providing support for the handling of the above urgent and essential court hearings/matters.
      
     For enquiries regarding general arrangements on the court businesses during the period, the following hotlines are being operated from Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm–

• General Information: 2869 0869
• Court of Final Appeal: 2123 0123
• High Court: 2523 2212
• Probate: 2840 1683
• District Court: 2845 5696
• Family Court: 2840 1218
• Lands Tribunal: 2771 3034
• Labour Tribunal: 2625 0020
• Small Claims Tribunal: 2877 4068
• Magistrates' Courts: 2677 8373

     The Judiciary will continue to post updated information, including Daily Cause Lists and advice to court users visiting the courts during this period, on the Judiciary website (www.judiciary.hk). Court users are advised to check the website for updated information as necessary.     

     In light of the extension of the special work arrangements announced by the Government on February 7, and to reduce the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, the Rating and Valuation Department announced today (‪February 8) that starting ‪from February 10, the opening hours of its enquiry counters will be adjusted as follows to provide basic and limited counter services to members of the public until further notice.
 
     Opening hours of enquiry counters: 
Monday, Tuesday and ‪Thursday (8.15am to 1pm) 
 
     Members of the public are encouraged to use the department's 24-hour electronic services (www.rvd.gov.hk) to submit forms or obtain information as far as possible. Public enquiries may also be made to the department by email (‪enquiries@rvd.gov.hk), by fax (‪2152 0138) or by phone at ‪2152 0111/2152 2152, and the processing time may be longer.