A Government spokesman said today (February 7) that in view of the latest situation, the special work arrangement for government departments will be extended until February 16 in order to reduce social contacts and the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community. The Government will review the situation before then.

     Government departments will continue to provide emergency services and other essential public services, as well as basic and limited-scale public services. If necessary, individual government departments will announce their latest service provision separately.

     The spokesman also appealed to other employers to make flexible work arrangements for employees in order to reduce contacts among people.

     Police today (February 7) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tin Sum.

     Lam Ying-man, aged 78, went missing after he left an elderly home on Ngau Pei Sha Street last night (February 6). His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 77 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short grey hair. He was last seen wearing a dark grey flat cap, a black long-sleeved jacket, dark trousers and white slippers.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 9689 7445 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Central Tender Board announced today (February 7) that the closing time for tenders, which should originally have been received through the Government Secretariat Tender Box by noon on January 31 and February 7, will be extended until noon on February 14 (Friday). The Government Secretariat Tender Box is located at the ground floor of the East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong.

     For enquiries, please call 2810 2497 between 9am and 6pm from Monday to Friday.

     Hongkong Post announced today (February 7) that, due to flight adjustments of some airlines, airmail services to the following destinations may be subject to delay:
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
  
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (February 7) that the official foreign currency reserve assets of Hong Kong amounted to US$445.9 billion as at the end of January 2020 (end-December 2019: US$441.4 billion) (Annex).
 
     There were no unsettled foreign exchange contracts at end-January 2020 and end-December 2019.
 
     The total foreign currency reserve assets of US$445.9 billion represent over six times the currency in circulation or about 46 per cent of Hong Kong dollar M3.
 
****************************************************************
 
     At present, four press releases relating to the Exchange Fund's data are issued by the HKMA each month.  Three of these releases are issued to disseminate monetary data in accordance with the International Monetary Fund's Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS).  The fourth press release, on the Exchange Fund's Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account, is made in accordance with the HKMA's policy of maintaining a high level of transparency.  For the month of February 2020, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows: