The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) announced today (February 1) that the REO hotline 2891 1001 will maintain limited services starting from next Monday (February 3). Hotline services will be provided from 8.45am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

     To tie in with the response level under the "Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance" being raised to the Emergency Response Level, and to minimise the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus, the REO announced on January 28 that the REO's various offices and the Electoral Information Centre would be temporarily closed from January 29 until further notice.

     To reduce the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, special work arrangements for government departments will be implemented between February 3 and 9 . As such, the Legal Aid Department (LAD) today (February 1) announced that special arrangements will be made for legal aid applications and litigation services between February 3 and 7.

     The LAD's Information and Application Services Unit (located on 25/F, Queensway Government Offices (QGO)), Crime Section (located on 25/F, QGO), Civil Litigation Section 1 (located on 26/F, QGO), Civil Litigation Section 2 (located on 30/F, Revenue Tower, Wan Chai) as well as the Costing Unit and Enforcement Unit (both located on 27/F, QGO) will provide basic necessary and limited civil and criminal legal aid application and litigation services. 

     For enquiries, please contact the following offices during office hours:
 
– Information and Application Services Unit : 2537 7717
– Crime Section : 2867 3139 
– Civil Litigation Section 1 : 2867 3123
– Civil Litigation Section 2 : 2594 7884
– Costing Unit and Enforcement Unit : 2867 3152

     Members of the public may also contact us for other enquiries through our 24-hour hotline (2537 7677), email (ladinfo@lad.gov.hk) or fax (2537 5948). 

     LAD will review the above work arrangements on February 8.

     To align with the special work arrangement announced by the Government on January 31 to reduce the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, Hongkong Post announced today (February 1) the provision of basic and limited public services to members of the public from February 3 to February 9 as follows:-

–  All post offices will open from 11am to 3pm from Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 1pm on Saturday for the provision of counter services (Mobile Post Office service will be suspended);
– Mail delivery and mail collection from posting boxes will be provided on alternate days; and
– Posting and delivery of outbound and inbound Speedpost items will be maintained from Monday to Saturday.

     As operating hours of post offices have been shortened, members of the public requiring counter services may expect longer waiting time. 

     Members of the public are advised to visit Hongkong Post website (www.hongkongpost.hk) for the latest updates.  For further enquiries, please call the Hongkong Post Enquiry Hotline at 2921 2222.

     In light of the extension of special work arrangements for government departments and the latest development of the novel coronavirus infection, the Fire Services Department announced today (February 1) that starting from next Monday (February 3), its fire protection units will provide basic and limited public services to members of the public, including applications for various licences, applications for dangerous goods vehicle inspections, fire service installations acceptance inspections of new buildings and compliance inspections of ventilating systems, processing of building plans, handling of matters relating to building fire safety improvement works, etc.

     Meanwhile, the Shroff Office and Receipt and Dispatch Counter of the Licensing and Certification Command Headquarters (located on 5/F, Fire Services Headquarters Building) and the Receipt and Dispatch Counter of the Fire Safety Command Headquarters (located on 7/F at the Building) will also provide basic services during office hours.

     For enquiries regarding licensing matters, please call the hotline 2733 7619 during office hours.

     Regarding matters relating to the processing of building plans, building fire safety improvement works, etc., please call the hotline 2170 9665 during office hours.

     For complaints regarding fire hazards or dangerous goods, please call the FSD Complaint Hotline 2723 8787.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rates in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.