The following is issued on behalf of the Town Planning Board:

     In light of the extension of special work arrangement for government departments and the latest development of the novel coronavirus infection , members of the public can place their submissions made under the Town Planning Ordinance, into the drop-in box located at the Town Planning Board Secretariat's reception counter at 15/F, North Point Government Offices during office hours (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) starting from next Monday (February 3).  Other counter services will continue to be temporarily suspended until further notice.

     For enquiries, please call the Secretariat on 2231 4810.

     A Buildings Department (BD) spokesman announced today (February 1) that in view of the extension of the special work arrangement for Government departments to reduce the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, the BD will provide basic and limited services between next Monday (February 3) and February 9, focusing on public reports on building safety and unauthorised building works in progress, statutory submissions for new developments received, registration of building professionals and contractors, advisory service to licensing authorities and implementation of Operation Building Bright 2.0.  
      
     For 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, as well as applications for registration and renewal of registration of building professionals and contractors under the Buildings Ordinance, members of the public can place them into the drop-in box located at G/F, Buildings Department Headquarters, North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, during the period from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Friday. The BD will issue receipt / acknowledgement of the submission in due course.
      
     Besides, the Building Information Centre and all receipt counters, dispatch counters, general enquiry counters, and meeting rooms (except meetings essential to meet statutory requirements such as Minor Works Contractor Registration Committee meetings) of the BD will not be opened to the public until further notice. All appointments, meetings and inspections scheduled for the period will be rescheduled to a later date and individuals concerned will be notified in due course. 

     For emergency reports, please call 1823. For general enquiries and reports, people may call 1823 or inform the department by email, on-line reporting, fax or post.

Email: enquiry@bd.gov.hk 
Electronic Reporting Form: eform.one.gov.hk/form/bd0001/en/
Submission of Electronic Information: receipt@bd.gov.hk 
Mailing address: G/F, Buildings Department Headquarters, North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon
Fax: 2537 4992

     In light of the extension of special work arrangements for government departments, the Inland Revenue Department announced today (February 1) that from February 3 it will provide limited service from 9am to 4pm in the following areas:

(1) Service at its Business Registration Office
(2) Service at its Stamp Office
(3) Tax clearance for taxpayers leaving Hong Kong
(4) General enquiry service at its Central Enquiry Counter and through its Central Telephone Enquiry hotline at 1878088
 
     The Department appeals to members of the public for their understanding that the above services will only be provided at a much reduced scale and not all of their service needs can be met at the service counters. They should also be prepared to experience a longer waiting time before they can be served. The Department encourages the public to use its electronic services to handle their tax affairs as far as possible. A list of such services can be found in the Department's website at www.ird.gov.hk/eng/ese/index.htm.

     The Department further announced that deadlines for tax payments, lodgement of objections and holdover applications and submission of tax returns and information that fall between January 29 and February 9 will be automatically extended to February 10.
     
     For enquiries, please contact the Department by calling its enquiry hotline at 1878088.

     The Department will review the situation and make further announcement where necessary.

     In light of the extension of special work arrangements for government departments and the latest development of the novel coronavirus infection, the Drainage Services Department (DSD)announced today (February 1) that starting from next Monday (February 3), in addition to the emergency and essential public services being maintained, the DSD will also provide basic and limited public services to members of the public, including the 24-hour DSD Drainage Hotline, the inspection of drainage records, and the handling of Sewage Charges (SC) / Trade Effluent Surcharge (TES) matters. The public are advised to minimise their usage of the above services unless under emergency or necessary situation. The public are also advised that the handling time of the above services would be longer than usual.

     Except for the 24-hour Drainage Hotline (2300 1110), all enquiry phone lines and reception services will be suspended temporarily.

     The opening hours for inspection of drainage records will be shortened to Monday to Friday from 10am to 12noon and from 2pm to 4pm.

     Limited receipt and dispatch services will be provided at the five locations below, with opening hours on Monday to Friday from 10am to 12noon and from 2pm to 4pm.

43/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
12/F, Kowloon Government Offices, 405 Nathan Road, Kowloon
23/F, 1063 King's Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong
G/F, Western Magistracy Building, 2A Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong
G/F Shatin Sewage Treatment Works Administration Building, 1 Shui Chong Street, Ma Liu Shui, Shatin, New Territories

     The DSD facilities will also be temporarily closed for public visits or other educational purposes until further notice.

     To implement Government's announcement on the extension of special work arrangements for Government departments until February 9, a spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said today (February 1) that services of the Independent Checking Unit under the Permanent Secretary for Housing and Transport (Housing) for receiving building plan applications and other applications relating to building control under the Building Ordinance will continue to be suspended during the period.

     Furthermore, appeal hearings on the termination of tenancy agreement scheduled on February 3, 4 and 7, 2020 will be re-scheduled. Secretariat of the Appeal Panel (Housing) will inform the concerned parties separately.